A University Grants Commission (UGC) team arrived at Kolkata's Jadavpur University (JU) on Monday to assess the university's efforts in preventing ragging on campus, following a recent tragic incident where a student lost their life in a hostel.
The four-member UGC team, comprising Shashikala Wanjari, Vice-Chancellor of the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA); Sanjay Srivastava, VC of Mahatma Gandhi Central University in Motihari; Joydeep Banerjee, Associate Professor of NIT-Durgapur; and Vipin Kaushal, Joint Secretary in UGC, is conducting an inspection of the campus to evaluate the existing infrastructure aimed at averting ragging incidents. They are also scheduled to hold discussions with university officials and other relevant stakeholders, PTI reported.
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In a poignant twist, the team will visit the primary boys' hostel, where the tragic incident occurred on August 10th. The purpose of this visit is to gain a firsthand understanding of the circumstances surrounding the student's alleged ragging and subsequent demise.
JU's officiating vice-chancellor, Buddhadeb Sau, revealed that the UGC had raised queries regarding the university's adherence to anti-ragging guidelines. He assured that an exhaustive response addressing these concerns would be promptly sent to the UGC.
Sau also highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance campus security, stating, "CCTV cameras are already there on the campus, and some more will be installed at strategic points. The work order has already been issued," with full details to be shared with the UGC team.
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The UGC's visit comes after expressing dissatisfaction with the initial report submitted by JU detailing their anti-ragging measures in the wake of the tragic incident. This visit serves as a crucial step in the ongoing investigation into ensuring the safety and well-being of students at Jadavpur University.
