The city’s medical and engineering students, the worst sufferers of ragging, are a part of the group. So are law students and those studying management. These seniors and super seniors, all having been easy prey to ragging in their first few years in college, have come together for a common cause. And it is not to chalk out a ragging strategy but to launch a round-the-clock anti-ragging helpline to ensure the safety of freshers and to prevent a repeat of the traumatising experience they went through. Shaken and stirred by the incidents that followed last year’s ragging across the country — from medical student Amit Kachru’s suicide to another suicide attempt by a student in Andhra Pradesh —this group of students has joined hands to avoid any such accident in the city.

“We do not want the juniors to go through any embarrassing situation, which eventually can cause a mental imbalance. That is why we have launched this helpline,” says Shailendra Singh, co-ordinator, Savera. According to Singh,the helpline will become functional till September, which is when the first year students settle in properly.

Smriti Tiwari, another student who had faced a tough time due to ragging says, “At that time, I did not know anyone around, so even when I wanted to take some action, I had no clue where to start from. Over here though, from launching an FIR to approaching higher authorities in college, we will explain everything.”

The students also plan to meet the police commissioner in the hope of getting support to straighten things out if necessary. “We will meet commissioner Satya Pal Singh today evening to inform him about the steps to be taken in order to control ragging,” says Singh.

... contd.