Crackdown On Ragging: Govt To Launch Helpline For Medical Students, Separate Hostels For Senior & Junior Students

The health department will launch a special anti-ragging helpline for students at medical colleges, the minister declared.

Andhra Pradesh Health minister Vidadala Rajani ( Image Source :ABP Desam )

In the wake of the alleged suicide of medical student Dharavathi Preethi, the Andhra Pradesh Health Department has announced plans to take strict measures to combat ragging in medical colleges. Preethi, a first-year postgraduate student at Kakatiya Medical College (KMC) in Hyderabad, reportedly took her own life after being subjected to harassment by a senior student.

Following a meeting with the deans of medical colleges, Health Minister Vidadala Rajani instructed all medical colleges in the state to crack down on incidents of ragging. Teachers have been urged to inform students about the severe legal consequences of ragging juniors.

To further combat the issue, the health department will establish a special anti-ragging helpline for students at medical colleges, according to the minister. Additionally, the college administration has been requested to establish separate hostels for senior and junior students.

In a separate development, on Tuesday, Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan requested the Vice Chancellor of Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences (KNRUHS) to conduct a thorough investigation into the suicide of Dharavathi Preethi. The Raj Bhavan sent a letter to the Vice-Chancellor, requesting a comprehensive inquiry into all relevant factors to determine the truth.

Warangal Police have arrested Preethi's senior, MA Saif, who allegedly targeted her with insulting comments. The police have suggested that the harassment could have driven Preethi to attempt suicide. Preethi passed away at a hospital in Hyderabad five days after allegedly injecting herself with a lethal substance.

The launch of the anti-ragging helpline and the arrest of Saif are seen as significant steps towards ending the culture of ragging in medical colleges. The incident has sparked widespread outrage and renewed calls for a more robust anti-ragging policy across India's educational institutions.