News
Unresponsive ‘hotline’ a symptom of uni anti-ragging failures
View(s):By Tharushi Weerasinghe
Investigations into the death of Charith Dilshan, the Sabaragamuwa University student believed to have been the victim of extreme ragging, are continuing.
According to the police media division, 10 arrests have been made so far. Four of the suspects were arrested and produced in the Balangoda Magistrate’s Court on Monday, and six were arrested and produced in the same court on Tuesday.
The suspects, all third-year students from Sabaragamuwa, are in remand until their next court date on 16 May. The police media division could not clarify the specific provisions under which the students were arrested.
A disciplinary inquiry in the university is also happening separately, Sabaragamuwa Vice Chancellor Prof. Sunil Shantha told the Sunday Times. “We have suspended 11 students pending the formal inquiry.’’ A further five students accused of ragging in other instances by other students, have also been suspended.
“The Attorney General’s Department is also getting involved in the legalities around the issue, and we are in the middle of a discussion on that end, too.” He also said that the designated officer to be appointed from the university council, as per the University Grants Commission’s decision last week, has not been finalised yet. At the moment, the deans, marshalls, and proctors are exercising more vigilance over the welfare of students.
No more ragging: Activists taking part in a demonstration calling on the government to take tough measures to end ragging in universities. Pic by Akila Jayawardena
Prime Minister and Minister of Education Dr. Harini Amarasuriya also met with vice chancellors from state universities this week.
“We reviewed the current position of ragging at the meeting because different universities had different issues and they could not be generalised,” said Nalaka Kaluwewe, secretary to the Ministry of Education.
He noted that while many complexities were identified, a main concern was Circular 919 of the UGC, which outlines a protocol to end ragging and is the only procedural outline available for vice chancellors to follow. “The circular caters more to the protection of the culprit and imposes some rather impractical restrictions that hamper investigations, so we have instructed the UGC to review it immediately.”
The UGC claims it maintains an anti-ragging portal and a hotline for complaints. However, when the Sunday Times asked for information on the average number of complaints and help given to students, officials refused to reveal this information.
The Sunday Times also called the number made available for student welfare by the UGC repeatedly over the week, but could not get through to an official.
Mr. Kaluwewe acknowledged the issues saying that the ministry is working on rectifying them.. “I cannot speak on the UGC’s behalf, however.”
He also noted that awareness was low. “Increasing public awareness of both is now a priority for the ministry, and we have instructed the UGC accordingly. The hotline is only available during office hours, but the UGC has been asked to activate it for 24 hours.
“We include anti-ragging sessions in all our orientation processes for new students, but I cannot speak for how effective it is — social pressure is also a very important part of curbing this problem.’’
Also, six suspects were arrested on Tuesday for attacking a third year student of Sri Jayawardenapura University with helmets. The student was admitted to hospital.
The police media unit could not clarify the cause of the attack and was hesitant to attribute it to ragging, as the incident involved a senior student.
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