What Is Ragging and the Menace Related to it

Ragging is bullying of mild nature, and sometimes it could also be extreme- to answer your question about what is ragging. It is usually done with freshers or newcomers in an educational environment by senior students.

If you want further clarification on what is ragging, it is an abuse of human rights, especially in an educational environment. Ragging is a menace identified in three different types of abuse, namely physical, verbal and sexual. The abuse is usually a persuasive or violent activity such as singing, dancing, or proposing to another person. Still, it could also be an explicit sexual act in extreme situations. It is harmful because the victim can have dire consequences.

Ragging: Encouraging and Causative Factors

The Causes of Ragging

Many encouraging factors are responsible for vile acts in the name of ragging. A few educational institutions may face one causative agent, but there can be multiple such agents that culminate into ragging in other institutions.

A few such causes of ragging are listed below.

Inequality: 

Equality is a bane for a progressive society, and its harmful effects are quite prominent in a few environments such as educational institutions. In such institutes, students come from different social backgrounds with academic pursuits. The discrimination that happens in society is also a form of ragging.

Human Nature to Dominate: 

History tells us that kings and leaders dominated the world forever, for instance, Hitler. These leaders give us an insight into the human tendency to dominate. People especially who are young like the power to control and show their superiority, and sometimes they cross the line.

Improper Regulations: 

A very important factor that could also be the major cause for ragging is that effective regulations are lacking in some places. What is ragging, and why is it allowed? Institutions fail to have proper guidelines. It was not a big problem before; however, it is now showing its ugly face because of no regulations in place. Ragging has always been prevalent; however, restrictions weren’t.

The Role of Different Stakeholders to Prevent Ragging

Prevention is always better than trying to fix it later. The most reliable authority can be the universities and colleges. In such places, ragging is more prevalent, and from here, it can be rooted out as well. So, it is their responsibility to teach discipline and have punishments in place for offenders so that it can instil fear in students. The following methods can be adapted to help bring this into force.

The direct action that can effectively curb ragging may be easily achieved in schools. Because young minds easily grasp knowledge, it is at this age that they must be educated about human rights. Special training should be provided, and there should be checks in place to help prevent bullying by students.

Pre-Session Announcement Should be Made Compulsory:

Before the academic year commences, the institution heads should make sure that guidelines are given to students to stay away from ragging. The announcement should also convey the consequences of getting involved in ragging. The podium should also have the teachers, wardens, and other faculty, and it will ensure that the announcement is taken in full seriousness.

Anti-Ragging Bodies

Institutes must involve the role of different stakeholders to prevent ragging. Anti-ragging cells or anti-ragging bodies should have members from the faculty, staff, police, and detectives if needed. This can discourage ragging. There should be surprise raids, and the squad should be given the power to conduct such raids in possible places. Rewards can also be given to make these bodies persuasive.

Supervising The Hostels 

A place where ragging is very common is a hostel, and such acts remain unnoticed and unreported. Wardens should make sure that they keep an eye on such activities. There should be checks that are conducted randomly. There can be improvements among students, which will help such acts mellow down.

Supervising Residential Premises Other Than the Campus

If there are hostels outside the campus, they also need constant vigilance. The facilities must be registered with the local police. They should have a record of the establishment so that these authorities, along with the institutions, can have surveillance and checks with the help of CCTV cameras at certain points.

Conclusion:

Ragging can be prevented with a collective effort. It should be an effort from academic institutions and society. It must have the employees, administrators, legal experts, parents, media people, psychologists, the local authorities, political representatives, and social organisations. Cooperation from all these people can help us build a wall against the heinous act of ragging.