August 15,2017:

These findings were released by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

Nearly 36 per cent  of the students believe that ragging prepares them for harsh realities of world while 32% enjoyed the experience.

More worryingly, 84% of the students stated that they did not complain about the ragging.

These are findings of a psychosocial study carried out by a Supreme Court-mandated Committee among 10,632 students across country.

SC Panel comprising experts from the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) spoke to did not view the ragging as a form of harassment.

Panel found there was a widespread acceptance of phenomenon in the educational institutions and society at large.

Nearly 40 per cent said it helped them forge friendships in college, with 62% saying the seniors who ragged them initially helped them with studies and guided them through college. .

The study covered 37 colleges across India.

Around 40% of students stated that they were ragged in the some form or other by their seniors in the college, which shows that practice is still prevalent in many institutions despite checks being put in place. Many students viewed ragging as a tradition that ought to be continued and passed on.

Among respondents, 35.1% reported mild ragging while 4.1% reported severe ragging.

Ragging practices they identified ranged from being told to address the seniors as "sir" or "madam" to smoking, drinking and even physical, mental and sexual abuse.

Panel recommended strengthening of the personal interactions among freshers, seniors and wardens on campus and in the residential facilities to foster a sense of acceptance and inclusion among the newcomers.

It has also called for the zero tolerance to the ragging and asked the institutions to clearly spell out the unacceptable behaviour, be it harassment or the discrimination on basis of the gender, caste, religion etc.

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