‘Ragging Leaves A Deep Psychological Scar On Young Minds’
Vishnu Verma, a parent and an educator, says horrifying cases of ragging in various institutions make parents think twice before sending their children to faraway colleges. His views:
Being in the teaching profession for over two decades, I am deeply concerned about the incidents of ragging which are still taking place in educational institutions of all levels – be it private colleges, universities and schools of lower and higher repute. Though serious laws, that are well equipped to ruin the future of culprits once and for all, are in place, the youths, who are now ahead of time thanks to the gadgets and social media, still risk their future and try to skirt the law for cheap thrill or some perverse pleasures.
Besides causing physical as well as emotional trauma to the victim, ragging also causes an irreparable injury to the soul of the victim which, sometimes, results in a traumatic end to the situation – both for the victim and the parents. Besides experiencing a condition of anxiety, depression and fear, this also leads to lowering self-esteem and inferiority complex leading to taking extreme steps as in the case that we have witnessed in the recent KIIT case in Odisha where a Nepalese girl student took her life.
Though the enforcement agencies were quick enough to swing into action and arrest the accused and others, what came as a surprise was (as seen in some videos that are floating on social media) an office bearer of the institute daring the protesting (Nepalese) student by boasting that the budget of KIIT is more than the GDP of Nepal! This, I think, was possible only when the perpetrator and his protectors have no fear of law.
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As I have been following this unfortunate case since day one, what surprised me was that the commission form after the death of this student had already submitted its recommendations (regarding stringent steps to curb ragging) in 2018 and despite the cabinet approving the recommendations in February 2018, no action was taken at the time! The recommendation, as I read in an article, was to establish an Ombudsman with quasi-judicial powers at the state and district levels, chaired by retired district judges.
Although there are anti-ragging cells at all levels – the college, university, and institutions falling under UGC, they largely remain ineffective. Ragging complaints are never forwarded to the police, and only extreme cases are made public. The anti-ragging committees remain defunct and only exist on paper. Time and again, when such incidents occur and they come out in public, those concerned (ministers, officers, etc) come out in public with refreshed pledges of implementing the already existing laws more firmly and strictly but once the case fades off, things are back to square one.
We, as parents, as citizens, as people who make governments, need to wake up and ask questions. God forbid, but this can happen in our families and to our children. How can I make up my mind to send my son or daughter to a place or institute far away (to another city or state) if such things keep happening without fear of law?
As told to Rajat Rai
