Deshbandhu College For Girls

Anti-Ragging Committee:

“In conformity with Supreme Court judgements and directions, UGC guidelines and State Government Instructions, Deshbandhu College for Girls is following ‘Zero-Tolerance policy’ towards ragging. Any student accused and found guilty of ragging, will be severely dealt with, in accordance with the Provisions of the Law.”

UGC Regulation on Curbing the Menace of Ragging in Higher Institutions, 2009

According to the UGC Regulation on Curbing the Menace of Ragging in Higher Institutions, 2009, ragging constitutes one or more of any of the following acts:

1. Any conduct by any student or students whether by words spoken or written or by an act which has the effect of teasing, treating or handling with rudeness a fresher or any other student.
2. Indulging in rowdy or undisciplined activities by any student or students which causes or is likely to cause annoyance, hardship, physical or psychological harm or to raise fear or apprehension thereof in any fresher or any other student.
3. Asking any student to do any act which such student will not in the ordinary course do and which has the effect of causing or generating a sense of shame, or torment or embarrassment so as to adversely affect the physique or psyche of such fresher or any other student.
4. Any act by a senior student that prevents, disrupts or disturbs the regular academic activity of any other student or a fresher.
5. Exploiting the services of a fresher or any other student for completing the academic tasks assigned to an individual or a group of students.
6. Any act of financial extortion or forceful expenditure burden put on a fresher or any other student by students.
7. Any act of physical abuse including all variants of it: sexual abuse, homosexual assaults, stripping, forcing obscene and lewd acts, gestures, causing bodily harm or any other danger to health or person;
8. Any act or abuse by spoken words, emails, post, public insults which would also include deriving perverted pleasure, vicarious or sadistic thrill from actively or passively participating in the discomfiture to fresher or any other student.
9. Any act of physical or mental abuse (including bullying and exclusion) targeted at another student (fresher or otherwise) on the ground of colour, race, religion, caste, ethnicity, gender (including transgender), sexual orientation, appearance, nationality, regional origins, linguistic identity, place of birth, place of residence or economic background.

Punishments

According to the UGC Regulation on Curbing the Menace of Ragging in Higher Educational Institutions, 2009, depending on the nature and gravity of the guilt established by the Anti-Ragging Squad, those found guilty may be awarded one or more of the following punishments, namely;

1. Suspension from attending classes and academic privileges.
2. Withholding/ withdrawing scholarship/ fellowship and other benefits.
3. Debarring from appearing in any test/ examination or other evaluation process.
4. Withholding results.
5. Debarring from representing the institution in any regional, national or international meet, tournament, youth festival, etc.
6. Suspension/ expulsion from the hostel.
7. Cancellation of admission.
8. Rustication from the institution for period ranging from one to four semesters.
9. Expulsion from the institution and consequent debarring from admission to any other institution for a specified period

Ragging is a criminal offence. It has ruined countless innocent lives and careers. Ragging violates an individual student’s dignity and has serious impacts on one’s physical and mental wellbeing. Deshbandhu College for Girls takes Ragging very seriously and strictly complies with all regulations laid down by UGC and the Higher Education Department, Govt, of West Bengal. Ragging is totally banned in the College campus including the Hostel and anyone found guilty of ragging and/or helping ragging is liable to be punished.

Deshbandhu College for Girls has an Anti-Ragging Cell and an Anti-Ragging Squad. Meetings are held on a regular basis. There have been no complaints of any kind of harassment or ragging in the College premises till date. The campus and hostel are free from ragging. Posters warning against the evils of ragging and phone numbers and email IDs of helplines are displayed all over the College. There is also a complaint box for students to file grievances if necessary

Composition of the Committee
•  Anti-ragging Cell:    Dr. Annapurna Palit (Convenor)                  
                                       Prof. Sarmistha Bandyopadhyay
                                       Prof. Sujata Pradhan
                                       Dr. Purnima Mallick
                                       Dr. Parjanya Sen
                                       Dr. Amrita Datta, Principal, Netajinagar College 
                                       (External Member)
                                       Prof. Nabanita Chatterjee
                                       (University of Calcutta Nominee, Governing Body)
•  Anti-ragging Squad:     Dr. Sampa Bhattacharyya (Convenor)                  
                                             Dr. Diptasree Som
                                             Dr. Omprakash Chaudhury
                                             Dr. Sreoshi Chatterjee
                                             Smt. Rinku Ghosh (Warden)
                                             Mahua Tarua (Student representative)
                                             Saheli Akther Sumi (Student representative)
                                             Lakshmi Sharma (Student representative)

Overall Function

• To aware the students of dehumanizing effect of ragging inherent in its perversity.
• To uphold and comply with the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court and be vigilant on any acts amounting to ragging
• To publicize the prevalent directives and the actions that can be taken against those indulging in ragging
• To consider the complaints received from the students and conduct enquiry and submit report along with punishment recommended for the offenders;
• Oversee the procedure of obtaining undertaking from the students in accordance with the provisions;
• Conduct workshops against ragging menace and orient the students;
• To provide students the information pertaining to contact address and telephone numbers of the person(s) identified to receive complaints/distress calls;
• To offer services of counseling and create awareness to the students;
• To take all necessary measures for prevention of Ragging inside the Campus.

Important Contacts

• College Helpline Number:        Dr. Annapurna Palit (9038073617)
                                                        Dr. Sampa Bhattacharyya (9836352727)

• Anti Ragging Helpline for all Educational Institutions of West Bengal 1800-345-5678
• National Anti-Ragging Helpline Number 1800-180-5522 (24×7 Toll Free) [12 languages]
• UGC Monitoring Agency i.e. Centre for Youth (C4Y) 09818044577 (for emergency)
• helpline@antiragging.in

Committee Activities
Awareness Programme
Awareness Programme organized by Anti-Ragging Cell and Anti-Ragging Squad, Deshbandhu College for Girls in collaboration with Gurudas College on 9th June 2023, followed by screening of a documentary on ragging recommended by UGC.                                                    

Special Lecture

Special Lecture on “Is Ragging Cool? Ragging vs Socialization Paradox” by Dr. Maumita Sengupta, Associate Professor & HOD, Department of Education and Humanities, Techno India University organized by Anti-Ragging Cell and Anti-Ragging Squad, Deshbandhu College for Girls in collaboration with Netaji Nagar College on 14^th May, 2024 from 2:00 PM onwards. Dr. Amrita Dutta, Principal, Netaji Nagar College chaired the session.

Important Links
• UGC Anti Ragging Cell. https://www.ugc.gov.in/Bureaus/bureaus_details?EwV4Rtmy2xJ7nuhP3MYqbpwm5MTBRSa5u2ipRdltuUxMTUu1gSiipessUFP0rnrG
• National Anti-Ragging Programme Monitoring Agency – Centre for Youth (C4Y). www.antiragging.in  
• UGC regulation on curbing the menace of Ragging in Higher Educational Institutions, 2009. No. F 1-16/2007 (CPP-II), April 2009. gazzetaug2010.pdf (ugc.gov.in)
• Guidelines for Councils, Universities & Colleges: Curbing the menace of Ragging. https://www.antiragging.in/assets/pdf/information/ugc-iec-guidlines-for-councils-universities-and-colleges-for-curbing-the-menace-of-ragging.pdf
• Anti-Ragging Cell Circular. University Grants Commission. D. O. No. F. 1-15/2009 (ARC) Pt.III dated 14.12.2023. https://www.ugc.gov.in/pdfnews/7811287_Anti-Ragging_Cell_Circular.pdf
• National Anti-Ragging Programme Monitoring Agency Centre for Youth (C4Y) https://www.antiragging.in/
• West Bengal Act XIII of 2000. The West Bengal Prohibition of Ragging in Educational Institutions Act, 2000. https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/14569/1/2000-13.pdf
• Circular on Prohibition of Ragging in Higher Educational Institutions in the State of West Bengal. No. 780-Edn(U)/10M-75/2018 dt. 14.08.2023. https://wbxpress.com/files/2023/08/780-Edn.pdf