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Freshers asked to use smart phones against raggers
Students at state-run universities and higher education institutions should use smart phones to record incidents of ragging so that action can be taken against the perpetrators, University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama has advised. “They (students) can use their smart phones and take pictures or videos to prove incidents of ragging and immediate steps will be taken to punish those who are found guilty,” she said.
The commission has asked all universities to strictly enforce anti-ragging guidelines. The anti-ragging circular, first issued in 2010, has been reissued as state universities get ready to welcome 21,000 new students for the 2014 batch. “All raggers are psychologically imbalanced and they rag other students, especially the freshers, to gain mental satisfaction by creating pain to others,” said Prof. Hirimburegama.
She did not specify the complaints of ragging received by the UGC nor say in which institutions the violence is most prevalent but it is known that serious cases of ragging have taken place, including sexual abuse of students. Last year, a new student at the Arts Faculty of Peradeniya University was admitted to the hospital following injuries that he sustained during ragging. Medical reports revealed that he had been sexually abused a number of times before being admitted to Peradeniya hospital.
In another incident last year, a first-year student at Ruhuna University was admitted to the National Hospital following ragging that aggravated injuries from existing spinal damage. Students in state-run higher education institutions and universities are required to make a declaration stating that they will not indulge in any behaviour or acts that come under the definition of ragging, will not participate in or abet or propagate ragging in any form and will not hurt anyone physically or psychologically or cause any other harm, also agreeing to all legal punishment enforced on them if they are found guilty. A parent or guardian has to undersign the declaration.
The anti-ragging circular states that any incidents varying from verbal abuse to sexual harassment are punishable by law. Ragging is a non-bailable offence and those found guilty are liable to rigorous imprisonment of up to 10 years. Students proven guilty could be expelled and made to pay compensation for damage to property or injuries caused to victims.
Prof. Hirimburegama said the nature of ragging was changing: there were instances where freshers were being used to work to certain political agendas. “Students are forced to get to the streets and strike for various purposes. They are given tills and asked to collect money from the public. These are types of rags that cannot be tolerated in universities,” she said. She urged the public to complain to the police or a relevant institution if they came across a student who was participating in such acts.
The UGC Chairman said students could complain to the commission, the Higher Education Ministry or the Vice Chancellor of the university in question if they are made to carry out any of the activities mentioned. Legislation will be introduced to limit the number of years students can stay in universities. Students are currently able to complete their studies over 10 years.
“If a student is known to be involved in political work within the university he or she will be given only three to four years to complete their course following the last failure,” said Prof. Hirimburegama. Next year, there will be zero tolerance for any type of ragging in state universities, she declared.