Bhubaneswar, Aug. 2: As undergraduate classes have already begun in city colleges, authorities are keeping a close eye on senior students to avoid any untoward incident.

Almost every college in the capital has in place an anti-ragging committee, comprising faculty members, to look into complaints regarding ragging.

This year, Utkal University authorities plan to introduce a proctoral system to check incidents of ragging on the campus.

“According to this new system, one teacher would be put in charge of a group of 16 newcomers. In case of any trouble or harassment, the teachers would have to first look into the complaints,” said P.K. Sarkar, chairman of the university’s postgraduate council.

Authorities of BJB (Autonomous) College are also taking measures to avoid incidents of ragging on campus. “Anyone, who is found guilty of ragging, would be punished as per provisions of Indian Penal Code. We conducted counselling on ragging during the orientation session,” said Dusmanta Sahu, principal of BJB (Autonomous) College.

Susama Tripathy, a member of BJB College’s anti-ragging committee, said a squad would keep vigil on activities of senior as well as junior students to check the menace of ragging.

Some students, however, expressed deep concern over ragging. “Sometimes, if we even ask the juniors to introduce themselves, they consider it as harassment and lodge complaints of ragging. Before taking any action, the authorities must take into account both sides of the story,” said Rashmi Ranjan Samal, a final year student of Ravenshaw University, Cuttack.

Bhabani Shankar Sethy, a second year student of BJB (Autonomous) College, said relationship between seniors and juniors must be cordial. “The seniors must help their juniors and extend a friendly hand. At the same time, the juniors need to give respect to the senior students,” he said.

In case a fresher feels that he is being victimised by senior students, he/she can immediately report the incident to any member of the anti-ragging committee or directly to the principal of the institute.

There is also a 24x7 anti-ragging helpline (1800-180-5522).

The helpline was set up by University Grants Commission, New Delhi, in June, 2009, to register complaints related to ragging.