Put an end to ragging on campuses

Expressbuzz, Oct 30, 2009

BHUBANESWAR: Governor and Chancellor of Universities Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare today directed all the universities in the State to ensure ragging-free atmosphere in their campuses.


Acting on a communique from the Rashtrapati Bhawan, Chancellor Bhandare convened a meeting of Vice-Chancellors of all universities to review the steps taken by the authorities of the institutions to end the menace of ragging and harassment of students. He instructed the authorities to adopt a zero-tolerance stance towards such activities and deal with them firmly.

The Chancellor also reviewed the progress of his brainchild “Project Gyanlok”, which involves universities through their NSS wings to improve literacy rate among tribals, educating girl children and bringing back dropout children to schools. Every university is required to adopt villages for interventions.

As per the reports produced before him, North Orissa University has adopted six villages resulting in enrolment of 300 students. About 110 NSS units with 5,500 volunteers are involved in the project. The Fakir Mohan University has brought about enrolment of 295 students of which 150 were fresh and 145 dropout. The interventions covered 113 villages.

Sambalpur University has adopted 247 villages and Sri Jagannath University 21. Berhampur University has adopted 240 villages and effected an enrolment of 1,831 students of which 223 are fresh and 1,608 dropouts. OUAT has adopted six villages in three tribal districts of Nuapada, Kalahandi and Kandhamal effecting enrolment of 170 students. In a positive move, the Krishi Vigyan Kendras in the districts have been involved to hold skill enhancement programmes for students as well as villagers. Ravenshaw University has adopted two slums Behera Sahi and Dasa Sahi in Cuttack for the project.

Bhandare also took stock of the progress of Telemedicine in the State.

Vice-Chancellors of all Universities and Nodal Officer of Orissa Telemedicine Project Prof BN Mohanty were present among others.