Mysore: President Pratibha Patil Calls for Law to End Ragging

The Hindu
Pics: KPN Bangalore

MYSORE, May 10: President Pratibha Patil has expressed concern over the spate of ragging incidents in the country and called for legislation to end the menace.

She was speaking after inaugurating the J.S.S. Medical College Silver Jubilee seminar and the girls’ hostel of J.S.S. Free School at Suttur, about 25 km from here, on Saturday.

The President recalled the recent incidents of ragging in colleges and said this was emerging as a major problem on campuses. “I saw the agony of parents who lost their child in a ragging incident. These are intelligent and brilliant students. Those new students who are subjected to ragging can go through a range of emotions from fear to humiliation. It is a crime against humanity,” Ms. Patil said.

She appealed to the sensibilities of senior students and asked them to be more sympathetic and responsible while dealing with juniors. It was their job to make juniors feel at ease in their new environment.

“Not only students, but parents, teachers, managements, university authorities and State governments should also take this initiative seriously. If need be, there should be legislation on this to prevent ragging,” she said.

Calling for a congenial atmosphere on campuses and universities for developing mutual respect, friendship and understanding, the President appealed to the youth of the nation to canalise their energies towards positive activity. There was much that they could contribute to the development of the country. A positive approach would not only benefit them, but would also be for the good of the nation, she said.

Women’s education

Underlining the importance of educating women, the President cited the poet Kuvempu and said education should make the minds of students as fertile and productive as paddy fields.

“Though much has been done for the education of women, yet much remains to be done. I am happy that one aspect that can be useful in helping young women during their education has been catered to by the J.S.S. Mahavidyapeetha through the establishment of the girls’ hostel at J.S.S. School, which I have inaugurated. I am sure that the hostel shall provide a safe and healthy atmosphere for all the girls residing there. If such an atmosphere is provided, girls can do well in their studies. Our women and girls are no less talented than our men. What is required is proper encouragement and a conducive atmosphere,” the President said.

Math praised

Governor Rameshwar Thakur extolled the services rendered by the Suttur Math and expressed the hope that the hostel inaugurated by the President would go a long way in making quality education accessible to young women from rural areas and disadvantaged sections of society.

Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa recalled the contribution of the Suttur Math to the field of education and said it was befitting that an important project of the J.S.S. Mahavidyapeetha in the area of women’s empowerment was inaugurated by the President.

Shivaratri Deshikendra Swamiji, who heads the Suttur Math, said the inauguration of the hostel building signified a landmark event in the math’s role in the field of education.