College authorities, police turn tough on ragging

College authorities, police turn tough on ragging
By Nithin Belle (Mumbai Musings)

25 July 2007



WITH the new academic year having begun, many college managements here have warned senior students not to indulge in ragging of freshers. The Mumbai Police too are taking measures to ensure that there is no ragging on campuses.


The Supreme Court had recently asked the government to take a serious note of the problem of ragging of newcomers at colleges across the country. Ragging has now been made a criminal offence, and the police have been instructed to take action against the perpetrators. College managements have been instructed to file a first information report (FIR) in case ragging occurs inside the campus or a hostel.

Many colleges have formed anti-ragging squads, and senior staff members have been instructed to warn mischief-makers that ragging would not be tolerated. Ragging is widespread in campuses across the country, and what starts off as a harmless activity, ends up in tragedy at times.

Last year, over a dozen students, victims of ragging, killed themselves in different colleges in the country. In most Mumbai colleges, there used to be light ragging of juniors, unlike in some campuses in the north. Though there have been instances of victims taking their lives even in south Mumbai colleges in the past.

But after a stern warning from the apex court, authorities here have decided to act tough with the culprits. The Mumbai Police say that victims can call up the control room number 100 and complain of harassment. Plainclothes detectives are also doing the rounds of colleges and even hostels in the first few weeks of the new academic year to prevent untoward incidents.

Mumbai police makeover

BOLLYWOOD movies have for years been poking fun at Mumbai's cops, belittling their achievements, dubbing them as inefficient and corrupt, and lampooning them for tardy investigations.

Of course, not all cops are like the typical Bollywood 'hawildar' or inspector, and many rightly feel hurt at the negative portrayal of the force. For the first time, Mumbai police is now trying to do something about this negative image — not by hauling up movie-makers, but by training their men to be more PR-focused.

Police chief D.N. Jadhav is focussing on the human resource development aspect of his force, and wants his men and women to undergo training programmes that would cover motivational aspects as well.

The police will hire experts from the private sector, who will train the harried men and women, especially the constables and sub-inspectors who patrol the city's mean streets. The trainers will focus on aspects like stress management, communications skills, spoken English, and also motivate them to take on the daily challenges.

Jadhav and other senior officers also want to focus on the physical health of the cops, many of who are out of shape. The paan-chewing, pot-bellied cop is a standard Bollywood character, and efforts are now being made to put the men through a rigorous exercise plan.

Five police stations have been identified and the administration is equipping them with mini-gyms and other facilities that will help the men and the officers to trim the flab. The police have also gone in for tie-ups with private gyms, trainers and equipment suppliers, who will provide them with treadmills, exercise cycles, and weights.

So don't be surprised if in future Bollywood flicks you come across cops from Mumbai who are as fit as the heroes and are able to take on a dozen villains single-handedly.

link to report : http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/subcontinent/2007/July/subcontinent_July1059.xml§ion=subcontinent&col=