GUWAHATI, June 13 � All the educational institutions of Guwahati is likely to have its exclusive anti-ragging helpline number. Besides, the Deputy Commissioner�s office too will have a separate round-the-clock helpline number where victims or their parents would be able to lodge complaints directly.
Besides, the existing Dial 100 facilities of City Police will also be mobilised to ensure prompt action against the culprits.
Besides, a team of psychologists could also be engaged for pre-session counseling for all the students.
Steps will also be taken against consumption of banned substances including alcohol inside the college premises, which according to a number of members, has become rampant and had led to extreme cases of ragging in the past.
These were decided in the first meeting of the district-level anti-ragging committee of Kamrup (Metro) held in the Deputy Commissioner�s office on Thursday. The authorities have now decided to act tough on those resorting to ragging, which is a criminal offence.
The meeting chaired by the Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup (Metro) Ashutosh Agnihotri, was participated by heads of a number of educational institutions including the Guwahati Medical College and Hospital, Assam Engineering College, Cotton College, B Borooah College, Handique Girls� College and Dispur College besides other members that included members from the NGOs and journalist fraternity.
The meeting also decided to organise sensitisation programme in all the educational institutions before the start of the session where senior police officials and district administration official would brief both the freshers and the senior students about the criminal offence component and its implications.
It was also agreed that the anti-ragging squads of the educational institutes will have a Government official as the member for effective implementation of the Supreme Court�s rule on ragging.
�The members were also in favour of conducting sustained and effective visits to the hostel. The Deputy Commissioner, during the meeting, said that exemplary punishment would be initiated against anybody found guilty of the offence and all necessary measures would be taken to ensure that such uncalled for acts do not take place,� sources stated.
It was also decided that the members of the district level committee will visit the educational institutes from time to time to review the adherence level. The pan shops in the vicinity of the educational institutes will also be removed very soon, the DC added.
