Lok Sabha Question No. 75 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-18
Subject: Ragging in Universities
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL, RAMACHANDRAN MULLAPPALLY, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.75 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.7.2016

## Ragging in Universities

75. SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO: SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN: DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT: SHRI SATAV RAJEEV: SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE: DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  planning  massive  campaign  including  creation  of posters,  jingles,  commercials  and  short  films  against  ragging  which  will  be  shown  in universities across the country for this current academic year, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the total number of cases of ragging including cases that have resulted in death or maiming of students reported in different colleges of the country during the last year along with the number of States that have registered high number of ragging cases;
- (c) whether the University Grants Commission (UGC) has written letters asking them to address the issue, if so, the response thereto; and
- (d) whether the Government  proposes  to amend  the  rules/law pertaining to punishment for ragging if so, the details thereof?

## A N S W E R

## MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a): Yes, Madam. During the financial year 2015-16, MHRD allocated a sum of Rs. 5 crore for Media Campaign to UGC for undertaking a publicity campaign against ragging in Higher Educational Institutions in the country. The UGC has spent an amount of Rs. 4.78 crore on various activities, including preparing and broadcasting of TVCs on AntiRagging by Doordarshan, making of films by NFDC, coverage through FM Radio and printing & mailing of posters by DAVP and broadcasting on All India Radio by Prasar

Bharati. The UGC had also announced a competition for students, teachers and general public for wide publicity and promotion of Anti-Ragging measures which include Poster designing, Logo/Icon/Slogan designing and Essay competition.

(b): 390 cases of ragging, including death or maiming of students, were reported in different  colleges  of  the  country  during  the  last  year,  including  the  States  of  Uttar Pradesh,  West  Bengal  and  Madhya  Pradesh  which  have  reported  higher  number  of cases.

(c): Yes, Madam. UGC has sent letters dated 28.7.2015 and 10.2.2016 to the Chief Secretaries and the Education Secretaries of the concerned States where the ragging cases reported are high.

(d): No,  Madam.  UGC  is  taking  action  on  punishment  for  ragging  as  per  UGC's Regulation on Curbing the Menace of Ragging in Higher Education Institutions, 2009. In cases  and  situations  where  the  provisions  of  the  Indian  Penal  Code  are  attracted, appropriate action is also taken. The UGC has also recently expanded the definition of 'ragging'  by  bringing  out  the  Third  Amendment  of  its  Anti-Ragging  Regulations  on 29.6.2016.

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