The state government has launched an anti-ragging campaign after the HRD ministry recently cautioned it against the rising number of ragging complaints.

Bengal is second to Uttar Pradesh in terms of complaints registered on the UGC's 24X7 anti-ragging helpline.

For a start, posters are being put up in more than 500 undergraduate colleges and 21 universities in the state.

Higher education minister Partha Chatterjee on Monday said steps were being taken to curb the menace.

The matter was discussed at a meeting of the state higher education council where the vice-chancellors of all universities were present.

"Ragging is a serious issue. Bengal has a rich tradition of tolerance in academic institutions. We shouldn't indulge in something (ragging) that would tarnish Bengal's image. The vice-chancellors have been asked to take appropriate steps," Chatterjee said.

On Friday, anti-ragging posters were put up in Presidency University.

"Ragging is a crime.... Stop ragging..." read a poster. Another said the campus was free of ragging. "We show zero tolerance to ragging..." Another talked about some of the penal actions that can be taken against those found guilty of ragging - cancellation of admission, suspension from classes and rustication/expulsion from the institute.

Vice-chancellor Anuradha Lohia said ragging complaints were rare at the institute. "We decided to put up the posters to ensure there is no ragging at all."

A higher education department official said: "We have taken the initiative now as it would reduce ragging complaints right from the start of the new academic session."

The government is concerned about Bengal's position on the ragging list. "We are determined to bring down the number of ragging complaints," he said.

The UGC helpline registered 430 complaints from Bengal in seven years. In the same period, Uttar Pradesh accounted for 628 complaints.

The government is also drawing up a detailed guideline, which will be sent to all undergraduate and engineering colleges and universities.

Supreme Court guidelines make it mandatory for every higher education institutes to have safeguards against ragging and a system that would ensure prompt response to a ragging complaint and punitive action against the guilty.