In West Bengal, the situation is worse than Bihar. In 2017, 99 students were the victims of ragging in West Bengal, up from 53 in 2015
Even after the Supreme Court's intervention, and multiple efforts by Central and state governments, ragging cases in India have increased more than 200 percent in three years.
According to the ministry of human resources development, in 2015, a total of 423 cases of ragging were registered in the country, but in 2017, the number increased to 901.
The situation in education institutions is alarming and all states except Goa have seen a rise in ragging cases. States like Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal contribute more than 40% to the total cases of ragging in India. Uttar Pradesh, which witnessed 51 cases in 2015, saw 143 cases in 2017, according to the latest data.
Similarly, cases of ragging increased alarmingly in Madhya Pradesh and Bihar too from 2015 to 2017. In 2017, the two states registered 100 and 53 cases of ragging respectively. In 2015, Madhya Pradesh had seen 51 cases, while Bihar, 21. In West Bengal, the situation is worse than Bihar. In 2017, 99 students were the victims of ragging in West Bengal, up from 53 in 2015.
According to the MHRD data, there has been a rise of almost 75% in ragging cases over the 2015-17 period in education institutions of the national capital.
“Out of a total of 1,839 ragging complaints received by the UGC (University Grants Commission) during the past three years, students have been punished in 812 cases including suspension in 309 cases,” the MHRD said.
Even the north-eastern states, which were untouched by ragging in 2015 and 2016, have registered cases of ragging in education institutions. States like Manipur, which had no instances of ragging in 2015 and 2016, registered four cases in 2017. Similarly, Mizoram witnessed one incident each in 2015 and 2016, but saw three incidents in 2017.
There has also been a rise of ragging in Jammu and Kashmir over the past three years. In 2016, the state registered two cases, which increased by more than 300% in 2017.
Goa is the only state that has gone against the grain and there has been a fall in complaints of ragging by students.
All premier education institutes of India, including AIIMS and IIT, have seen students falling victim to ragging by the seniors.
In 2017, AIIMS had suspended five students on the charge of ragging after a few freshers complained against their seniors in the fifth semester.
Similarly, IIT Kanpur suspended 22 students who had allegedly ragged freshers.
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