By Bhavna Mohan   “We also wish to see this issue get resolved, but we do not believe taking to the streets is how it can be done,” said Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) Convener Lahiru Weerasekara on being questioned on whether the IUSF believed ragging should stop. Wise words, or words of ignorance, we cannot say as yet. He may be right in taking that stance as we have not really seen much being accomplished through the recurrent application of their traditional ‘protest’ method. However, this also raises the question of whether ragging is not seen as a pressing matter in their agenda, that needs resolution. He added that ragging is a subculture in the current universities and would need to be addressed from within.   Efforts in place   The University Grants Commission (UGC) has taken reactive measures to tackle the numerous number of cases reported and stuck to their zero-tolerance policy on ragging; however, only recently. Their efforts comprise of the following:

• A commission circular as University Policy (No. 919 dated 15 January 2010) titled ‘Guidelines to be Introduced to Curb the Menace of Ragging in the Universities or Higher Education Institutions’ which provides clear instructions on how to control gender-related discrimination, including ragging, and procedures to be followed post incidents
• An online complaints mechanism in February, 2017
• Establishment of a multi-level Task Force to Prevent and Eliminate Ragging in Universities under the Centre for Gender Equity and Equality (CGEE) in November, 2017
• Development of an Emergency Safety App in collaboration with ICTA in June
• Setting up of a special office to handle complaints on a 24×7 hotline (0112 123700) – initially to handle gender related complaints, and after a conference held in 2016, instructed to handle complaints on ragging as well

On speaking to a UGC Committee member on the possible next steps, she informed The Sunday Morning that they were working in collaboration with Indian academics, conducting workshops and such, as they have had major success in containing the matter in many parts of the country. It all started with an individual (a professor who prefers to protect his identity) who took the incident of having lost a child to ragging all the way to the Supreme Court. “This received a lot of media attention and public support, and thus the Parliament also got involved, and the court gave orders that universities must contain ragging. So we thought if they can do it, why can’t we?” she said.   Better late than never – or not   Unfortunately, the proverb ‘it’s better late than never’ may not be apt in this situation. Evidence to this is the fact that ragging has been a long-standing issue dating as far back as 1975, with the report of the first case of Rupa Rathnaseeli of the University of Peradeniya, according to Professor Camena Guneratne’s presentation on reported cases of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) with special reference to Higher Educational Institutions (available online). Since then, numerous cases of injuries, suicides, and drop-outs have been brought to light; however, the real numbers may never be known, as many cases go unreported. In addition, the UGC has been receiving complaints lately pertaining to “remote ragging”, where the “raggers” are stationed a distance away from the victim, and instruct them on what they need to do, all the while keeping their phones on and staying on Skype. “Also, the ragging doesn’t commence when the freshmen come into the university, but before that. As the list of new students who have gained admission is publicised, the raggers go and visit them in their villages, and there is where it begins,” a UGC committee member stated. According to the CARE International Study (2013) ‘Broadening Gender: Why Masculinities Matter – Attitudes, Practices and Gender-Based Violence in Four Districts in Sri Lanka’, 3% of males in the male sample reported that they were sometimes forced to have sexual or physical relations with a community leader or schoolboy before the age of 18. Similarly, 4% of men reported ragging another person. This begs the question: when, where, and how does it all start?   Underlying factors – in the local context Rather than attributing to reactive measures only – action taken after the fact – Sri Lanka must engage in preventive means and adopt a solution that will mitigate the problem in the long run. Pertinent to this would be the investigation into the underlying factors behind ragging incidents. A few points to consider may be:

• Violence against children, including bullying at schools

According to UNICEF’s report titled ‘Preventing Violence Against Children in Sri Lanka’, boys and girls born during the conflict, but living in other parts of the country and therefore not directly affected by the war, have also experienced violence while growing up, including bullying in school and sexual harassment and abuse at different levels. Since these children grow up to attend local universities, and there is a high prevalence for the bullied to become the bully (Solberg et al., 2007), perhaps our problem starts here.

• Lack of awareness and education at a young age – they don’t know that it’s wrong

At present, the local primary/junior school curriculum does not include subjects that cover social sciences, self-defence, or life skills. Instead, these subjects are being introduced at higher education levels. Educating students on social and emotional intelligence should happen at a very young age, when children are, according to neuroscientists, most cognitively modifiable, meaning that, at a young age, children can be wired to refrain from engaging in activities that will be harmful to another; including ragging.  

• Tradition

Ragging is seen as a ritual of welcoming and preparing freshmen for their time at the university. Ranging from small acts such as singing a song to more serious acts such as naked public midnight baths, some victims eventually overcome (or so they claim) the difficulties associated with that experience, only to become part of something “bigger” when the next batch of freshmen joins. It is widely known that certain factions of society see this “inauguration” as acceptable and even encourage it; justifying the tradition with the fact that they too went through it and it “toughened them up”.

• Ragging taken lightly

The psychological impact of ragging can be manifold. Research has shown that each of the parties involved in ragging (perpetrator, victim, families, and institutions) can experience significant negative effects. Assault and sexual harassment also takes place under the guise of ragging. Ragging incidents may involve being beaten and “bucketed”, being forced to perform vigorous exercises, being forced to wear particular clothes, being insulted, and forced to repeat profanities (Guneratne, 2014). Victims of ragging have been known to experience significantly elevated rates of mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and lower levels of self-worth when compared to students who are not ragged (Manani, 2014). As such, perhaps encouraging the use of the terminology ‘physical and mental torture’ in place of ‘ragging’ might more accurately communicate the gravity of its effects. Proactive measures, or not, in place in Sri Lanka A three-day programme was conducted at the University of Kelaniya in February by the CGEE, under the guidance of the UGC to address issues of gender-based and discriminatory violence, and ragging. This is a series of programmes they hope to conduct in line with their strategies for universities on preventing SGBV in 2015. On speaking to the UGC Committee on how they look to move forward, a committee member stated that they are working in collaboration with Indian academics; engaging in workshops and other such programmes to work towards eradicating the issue as there have been vast reductions in the incidents in our neighbouring country. “They (India) get very tough with the vice chancellors – going so far as to make them lose their posts if they can’t contain the issue of ragging. In addition, they vehemently create awareness with the placement of many posters stating that “ragging is a crime” and “ragging is illegal”; and lastly, they resort to very proactive monitoring methods whereby the freshmen are watched closely. They have been able to implement these measures following the Supreme Court order.” On suggesting the implementation of a subject in school curriculum to educate children from a young age on acceptable and unacceptable behaviour, its consequences, and effects on society, the committee member agreed that it would be a constructive measure to take. In January, Think Equal, a UK-and-US-based Not-for-Profit global education initiative, has piloted their programme – which aims to do just that – in Sri Lanka, in Colombo schools and the suburbs. Think Equal’s vision is to lessen disaffection and discriminatory behaviour in children as they grow into adolescence and beyond, with the introduction of social and emotional learning subjects in schools for students, from the young age of three. The initial feedback from the local schools is positive. However, one must keep in mind that this is a long-term solution in the form of generation-based mental cleansing – the benefits of which will prevail in 15-20 years. Prevent, report and protect Staying silent in the face of physical and mental torture does not have a null effect on the incidents taking place – in fact, it can be categorised as supportive behaviour. The public and citizens of the country should get actively involved and vociferous in their thoughts against ragging. Reports can be filed with the UGC, online or over the phone, at any time of day – not necessarily by the victim. Images can be uploaded onto the site as well, which will serve as proof of the incidents that occurred and lead to easy identification of the perpetrators. If we, the public, do not stand together, then there may be a day on which we would have to suffer through the painful discovery that “no, that won’t happen to me/my son/my daughter/my brother/my sister”, is just a statement we say to justify our lack of action.