New Delhi: Bullying in educational institutes is common and yet goes unchecked, leaving deep psychological scars on a student’s mind.
Bullying is something which is not restricted to freshers like ragging where seniors can assert their supremacy or make it known to all. Bullying in classrooms or in hostels takes place year-round in the form of physical or verbal abuse or in the form of social boycott among girls.
But help is at sight. The government is working on an anti-bullying policy to check the menace both in schools and colleges. According to a report in The Hindustan Times, UGC has set up a high-powered committee to suggest an action-plan to stop bullying in classes.
In all likelihood, amendments will be made in the anti-ragging regulations to curb bullying.
The report quoted a study by The Teacher Foundation, a voluntary body, across 15 Indian cities. The survey revealed that between 2013 and 2017, 42 per cent of students in Classes 4-8 and 36 per cent in Classes 9-12 had reported bullying.
“Apart from a senior student intimidating juniors, there can be issues that are region-specific or are linked with social realities. The committee will examine the issue of bullying from all aspects,” the report said quoting an official.
According to an UNESCO study published earlier this year, frequently bullied students are nearly three times more likely to feel like outsiders, and are more than twice as likely to miss school.
The committee which will prepare the policy will include representatives from NCERT, CBSE, HRD ministry and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
