Call For State-Level Cell Against Ragging On Odisha Campuses

Bhubaneswar: A forum working for welfare of students has demanded the setting up of state-level task force for prevention of ragging in educational institutions in Odisha.

The demand by Ragging Free Campus Abhiyan (RFCA) came in the wake of alleged ragging of a first year student by seniors in Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT), Burla.

RFCA said that higher educational institutions must be brought under the state government’s Mo Sarkar and 5T initiative and the rights of students must be protected with zero tolerance towards ragging.

It also demanded recruitment of permanent professional counsellors in higher educational institutions.

The forum alleged that the anti-ragging committees and cells in colleges largely remain inactive. Therefore, adequate steps need to be taken to ensure these bodies work for the welfare of students, it added.

RFCA convenor Tejeswar Parida also demanded that a state-level anti-ragging helpline with a toll free number and e-mail ID should be put in place immediately to prevent students from being harassed and abused on campuses.