To crack down on ragging,LU reserves hostel for freshers

Talking about the precautions the administration is taking,Prof Nishi Pandey,Dean,Student Welfare,said: “Subhash Hostel,situated at one corner of the University campus with its gate opening directly into the campus,will be allotted to the first years.”

If more rooms are required,the senior boys will have to vacate the hostels for the freshers,who are more vulnerable. A counsellor will also be appointed to help new students adjust to the campus.The first year boys,like the girls,will also be returning to their respective hostels by 9 pm.

“If the girls can come back by 8pm,why can’t the boys? If they need protection,they’ll have to follow these restrictions,” said Pandey.

At night,a group of 20 people — including senior students and proctoral board members — will be put on duty by rotation in the hostel. They will play sentry and help check ragging.

“It was important to include senior students because it’s not possible to implement this plan without sensitising them,” Pandey said.

Even during the day,the heads of faculties will have to take care that no empty classroom is being used for ragging. Proctoral board members and senior students will also keep an eye on quiet corners and secluded roads of the university. “Any student caught involved in ragging can be expelled from the university,” she said.

“There will also be policemen along with the proctoral board members who will be patrolling the university premises to tackle rogues,” said Administrative Officer PN Pathak.

Asked if such segregation will hamper the senior-junior relationship of the students,Pandey said this is not segregation but monitoring and the students are allowed to interact in front of the teachers.

“We did not have any ragging incidents last year in the campus,” she added.