LUCKNOW: Ragging continues unabated in the educational institutions of Uttar Pradesh. Technical, polytechnic and medical institutions are worst-hit. As per government figures, UP ranks first in ragging incidents in the country.

According to latest data of the National Anti-Ragging Helpline (1800-180-5522), 471 ragging cases were registered in UP between June 2009 and February 4, 2014. West Bengal is next with 310 complaints. After a sharp decline in the cases in 2011 to 2012, the number has gone up to 94 in 2013. In a little over month year, three ragging cases have already been registered in the state.

The spurt in ragging cases is registered, say activists, after the commencement of academic session in engineering and medical colleges in August.

Other states with high ragging cases include Odisha (247), Madhya Pradesh (230), Maharashtra (127), Tamil Nadu (123), Rajasthan (125), Bihar (114) and Delhi (52).

Figures show boys are more vulnerable to ragging; about 90% ragging victims are boys. Since 2009, more than 8.8 lakh students (seniors and freshers) have submitted affidavits which are available on the Central government's anti-ragging web portal.

Activist from Society Against Violence in Education (SAVE), an NGO working with the anti-ragging helpline, had anticipated the number of affidavits to cross 8 lakh mark before the commencement of academic session 2013-14.

TOI accessed the overall complaint status as recorded by the Anti-Ragging Helpline between April 17, 2012, and February 4 this year. Out of 981 complaints received during the year, 693 have been disposed of. A total of 27 complaints are active in the call centre while five are active in the monitoring agency ( Aman Satya Kachroo Trust ). The number of complaints active in various regulatory authorities (UGC, MHRD, AICTE etc) is 256.

Out of total complaints, 164 are from UP. The data show 123 complaints have been closed. While 25 complaints are active in UGC, three and one are active in the call centre and monitoring agency respectively. Twelve cases are pending with various regulatory agencies except UGC.

Experts point out two reasons for high number of ragging cases in UP. "Call it mathematical jargon or the increased awareness among the students that UP has the maximum number of institutions," said Gaurav Singhal , SAVE activist. He added, be it sexual abuse, harassment or physical assault, the complaints keep pouring in.

While half of the ragging cases are kept under wraps, the remaining are discouraged by the UGC's anti-ragging helpline." In UP, maximum ragging cases are reported from technical university and polytechnics.

UGC started the 24-hour helpline in 2006 under the direction of the Supreme Court. Every complaint is followed till justice is secured. RTI queries have revealed that only 1% of the actual number of cases get registered with the helpline because students are too scared to complain, fearing a backlash. "It is also seen that the helpline does not register anonymous complaints,'' said an activist.

