[Peninsula] Anti-ragging drive planned in Karnataka universities

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Web posted at: 5/19/2007 1:21:26
Source ::: IANS

Bangalore • Universities in Karnataka are coming up with some innovative solutions to the problem of ragging in the wake of a recent crackdown by the Supreme Court.

Bangalore University, for example, plans to include moral studies in its courses – hoping these lessons will not only deter bullies but also help students keep off smoking and drinking.

The Visveswaraya Technological University (VTU), which administers all 120 engineering colleges in the state, has responded rather more robustly - it has drafted its younger faculty members to travel in college buses in order to protect freshmen and women from bullies.

Their moves follow the apex court’s directive Wednesday for educational institutions across the country to take a slew of stringent anti-ragging measures, including filing police cases against bullies.

Dr K Balaveera Reddy, Vice-Chancellor of VTU said junior faculty members, who are usually only a few years older than their students, would be randomly placed in college buses to stop the seniors from harassing juniors.

The idea is to instill fear among the bullies and make it clear to them that VTU will not tolerate ragging – either on campus or in college buses, he said.