GMERS Medical College and Hospital in Dharpur Patan, Gujarat, is one of the educational institutions that recently suffered from a tragedy that has, yet again, highlighted the issue of Gujarat Medical Student Dies After Ragging problem that is rampant in Indian educational institutions.
It is reported that Anil Methania, a first-year student, died after being made to stand for hours as a punishment for ragging. The incident, which occurred on the college campus, has stirred the public, thus, their voices are raised against ragging with its more severe measures implementation and one for the grieving family.
The Tragic Incident
GMERS Medical College, Anil Methania, a fresh medical student, was supposedly a victim of a severe ragging session by the elder students. It was alleged that he was made to stand for three hours as a part of a custom that was done by the third-year students.
Unfortunately, Anil was first taken to the hospital because of the incident and later passed away there.Tech Anil had the time to talk to the police before his death and he incriminated his seniors as well in the whole rukus. This has sparked a massive backlash with a major concern surrounding the safety protocols in place which are supposed to prevent these kinds of situations. The death’s cause is under investigation as the report is still pending.
What Happened After the Incident?
In the wake of Anil’s horrific death, his family strongly calls for justice. The medical college is said to have ignored the warnings about ragging and, thus, the parents hold it responsible for Anil’s incident. The administration of the college has vowed to take measures, but the question that lingers is: Will this be enough to discourage the occurrence of ragging in
GMERS and other educational institutions in the future?
Police have inscribed a case relating to a death that was merely an accident and have vowed to carry out further investigation into the matter. Nevertheless, the case has brought to the fore the incessant issue of ragging in the college establishments throughout the entire country of India. On the other hand, the state and educational authorities are enduring the toughest time yet, to implement the anti-ragging laws that would be as strict as they can be.
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Understanding Ragging in India
Ragging is a common problem in India, especially in universities, even though there are anti-ragging laws. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has made it very clear that any form of ragging is not allowed, but there are still such cases happening. A report by the UGC in 2019 showed that over 1000 complaints of ragging were lodged in the Indian colleges in just one year.
Even though the UGC policy is very clear about the prohibition of ragging, the implementation of the law is still not effective. The majority of students are reluctant to report ragging which gives the opportunity to the seniors to continue ragging without any fear.
The Role of Colleges and Authorities in Preventing Ragging
Educational institutions are in a vital position to ensure the security of the students. The colleges should have a zero-tolerance policy towards ragging and should strictly implement the anti-ragging measures. Such activities should include the distribution of information pamphlets among the new students, the establishment of helplines for anonymous complaints, and the employment of real punishment for the persons who are involved in ragging. Besides this, the police and the local authorities should act immediately to the reports of ragging. The Gujarat case is a horrible example that shows that much more needs to be done to secure the students and make them feel safe while they are studying.
A Call for Justice
Anil Methania’s passing was indeed a sad event that stole the smiles of his family, friends, and the entire nation. The case shows the grave need for the higher authorities to come with laws or definition of stricter measures to be adopted against ragging in all educational institutes across the nation. As probes into the matter persist, the general populace is clamoring for expedite justice. Not only this, the incident should give birth to real reforms and students should not be put into such a situation anymore.
Students, educational institutions, the government, and the whole of society must unite for the elimination of ragging and thus the protection of students’ well-being. Enough is enough: it is time for the promise of a safe, respectful, and dignified educational environment to be lived through by all students in India.
