Complaint boxes, helplines, vigilance squads: Delhi University rolls out anti-ragging measures ahead of new session

The measures include old and new strategies: campus surveillance, anonymous complaint mechanisms, parental undertakings, digital helplines, and coordinated vigilance squads.

Starting August 1, the university will operate two Joint Control Rooms — one each in the North and South Campuses — until August 8. Further, Anti-Ragging Day will be observed on August 12, followed by Anti-Ragging Week from August 12-18, as per the University Grants Commission’s instructions.

The university’s anti-ragging framework — summarised in a detailed circular — includes multiple reporting channels. Students can call the UGC’s 24×7 helpline, email the Proctor, or use the Anti-Ragging and Himmat mobile apps. Local control rooms and the campus police vehicle “VAMIKA” have also been mobilised.

Sealed complaint boxes are being placed in front of principals’ offices, especially in undergraduate colleges with hostels, “for the benefit of potential victims of ragging to enable them to put their complaints/ suggestions to college authorities,” the circular reads. The responsibility of addressing these complaints lies with designated officials in each college.

This year’s protocol is part of a broader architecture that’s been built for years.

Institutions have been told to erect banners, billboards and posters “exhorting students to prevent or not to indulge in ragging,” and to ensure that “each student carries his/her own identity card”. Entry to the college premises is to be regulated via ID verification by security personnel.

“Any acts of indiscipline, ragging will be dealt with strictly under the University’s Statutes (and) Ordinances,” the Registrar said in the latest release, adding that hoardings in English and Hindi have been placed in “strategic locations” across both campuses.

The university has also warned that consequences for ragging may include suspension, expulsion, cancellation of degree, cancellation of admission, and debarment from examinations. College heads are required to submit weekly anti-ragging compliance reports for the first three months of the session, and monthly thereafter.

All students and hostel residents must also now submit a parent/guardian-signed anti-ragging undertaking at the time of admission. In 2021, too, DU had issued similar guidelines and instructions to appoint a Disciplinary Resource Person (DRP) in every college, hostel, and department — tasked with liaising with the Proctor’s office.

The 2021 guidelines also encouraged a more empathetic approach: colleges were advised to assign new students a personal consultant or mentor, helping them emotionally adjust to their new environment. The guidelines emphasised that “specific care should be taken to avoid harassment of any student based on caste, sex, religion,” and that in such cases, “preventive actions are more important than punitive actions”.