Creating Safe Spaces: Drive for a Ragging-Free Campus

Imagine stepping into your first day of college filled with excitement, only to be met with fear instead of friendship. This is the harsh reality of ragging a practice that has scarred many lives. Thankfully, institutions are now taking stronger stands against it. Anti-Ragging Week in educational institutions is not just an awareness drive, but a movement to ensure that no student has to compromise their dignity for acceptance.

College life is often remembered as a journey of discovery, friendship, and growth,  a time when students take their first independent steps toward shaping their future, a time to learn, explore, and build friendships that last a lifetime. Yet, for some, this excitement can be overshadowed by the fear of ragging, a practice that has no place in modern educational institutions. To challenge this and ensure that every student feels safe and respected, educational institutions across the country are observing Anti-Ragging Week, turning awareness into action.

                                        
Sri Sri University joined this important movement by hosting a series of awareness activities, culminating in a thought-provoking Anti-Ragging week in its premises on 12th -18th August 2025. The seven-day event not only empowered students with knowledge of the law and the harmful effects of ragging but also celebrated their creative expressions through competitions, making it a meaningful blend of awareness, learning and student participation.

              

Sri Sri University also successfully organized an Anti-Ragging Seminar on 18th August 2025, the last day of the Anti-Ragging Week Observation. The event was jointly conducted by the Rover & Ranger Unit, NCC Unit and NSS Unit of the University. It began with the ceremonial lamp lighting by Executive Registrar Prof. Anil Sharma, Dean Students’ Welfare Prof. J. P. Bhatt and invited speakers.

Dr. Lagnajit Dash, Associate Professor at IMS & SUM Hospital, Bhubaneswar and Senior Consultant at CARE Hospital, spoke on “Creating a Safe Campus-Resilience or Ruin: Coping with Mental and Physical Harm from Ragging.” Sri Lalitendu Mishra, Advocate at the Odisha High Court addressed “Ragging and the Law: Understanding the UGC Regulations and Anti-Ragging Act.”

As part of the Anti-Ragging Week Observation, several competitions were held. In the essay competition, Ms. G. Nupur Tamanna (B.Sc. Agriculture) secured first position, the joint second prize went to Manoj Parida (B.Sc. Agriculture) and Ms. Sriya Parida (BAMS Ayurveda), while the third prize was bagged by Sagarika Behera (B.Sc. Agriculture).

                                                                

Similarly, in the slogan competition, Pooja S.R. (B.Sc. Forensic Science) won the first prize, followed by Biswajit Pradhan (B.Sc. Horticulture) in second place and P. Roshan Kumar (B.Sc. Agriculture) in third place.

In the poster competition, Pooja S.R. (B.Sc. Forensic Science) secured the first prize, Rakesh Mallick (B.Sc. Agriculture) won second, and the joint third prize went to P. Roshan Kumar (B.Sc. Agriculture) and Deepak Panda (B.Sc. Agriculture).

The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Rover Scout Leader Dr. Sandeep Rout. More than 180 students actively participated. Senior faculty and coordinators such as Dr. Neha (NCC Army Unit), Dr. Rajat Baliarsingh (NCC Naval Unit), Dr. Ambika Prasad Mishra (NSS Coordinator), Dr. Manoj Kumar Das (NSS Program Officer), Mr. Purna Chandra Panda (Warden) and Mr. Subedar Yadav (Security Officer) were also present.

Earlier, on 12th August, the Anti-Ragging Week was inaugurated. On this occasion, it was also reminded to both senior and newly admitted students that Sri Sri University’s policy of zero tolerance towards ragging is still being strictly enforced. Dean of Student Welfare, Prof. J. P. Bhatt, dedicated the entire week to promoting a culture of dignity and mutual respect. Ms. Rupali Nayak, representative of the Anti-Ragging Committee, highlighted preventive measures and emphasized the collective responsibility of all in maintaining a safe campus environment.

Detailed information was also shared that day regarding anti-ragging laws, university mechanisms, and its zero-tolerance policy towards ragging. On the inaugural day, NSS member Ritesh Nayak presented an awareness talk, while Ms. Priyanka Parija of the Rover & Ranger Unit led an oath-taking ceremony on respectful campus culture, where all attendees collectively pledged to uphold harmony.

On the occasion of Anti-Ragging Week, President Prof. Rajita Kulkarni, Vice Chancellor Prof. Tej Partap, Executive Registrar Dr. Anil Kumar Sharma, and Director Operations Swami Satyachaitanya extended their greetings and appreciation to the organizers and students for their commitment to preserving a safe and respectful campus culture.

The seminar not only celebrated the achievements of student participants but also served as a powerful platform to spread strong awareness about the harmful effects of ragging. Through thought-provoking talks and interactive sessions, the speakers emphasized how ragging can cause both physical and psychological harm, and why it is important for students to build resilience and support systems on campus. At the same time, the legal discussions highlighted the seriousness with which ragging is treated under UGC regulations and the Anti-Ragging Act, reinforcing that strict consequences await those involved in such practices.

The programme reminded students, faculty and staff that ensuring a safe, inclusive, and respectful campus is not the responsibility of a few, but a collective duty of the entire university community. By combining academic insights, legal awareness, and student engagement activities like competitions, the seminar strengthened the commitment of Sri Sri University to nurturing a learning environment where dignity, respect and harmony prevail.

A campus should be a place where curiosity thrives, creativity flourishes, and students feel empowered to become their best selves. Ragging stands in sharp contrast to these ideals, eroding trust and creating fear. That is why Anti-Ragging Week is more than just a campaign, it is a collective effort to build campuses that are safe, supportive, and truly student-friendly.