New mantra to fight ragging

LIFE ENGENDERS life. Energy creates energy. It is by spending oneself that one becomes rich— these famous lines of French actress Sarah Bernhardt seems to have become cardinal at Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology (MNNIT).

Here faculty members and freshers along with current students will join hands to weed out the hazardous Parthenium grass, also known as Congress or Gazar Grass, spreading unabated in the Deemed University premises on Sunday at 10.30 am.

The drive is being initiated by director of MNNIT Prof Arun Baran Samaddar in a bid to check ragging menace and motivate both seniors and freshers to utilise their energies in creative and productive endeavours.

"We have decided to organise the drive on August 6 that will be attended by all faculty members, freshers and senior students. We hope that this will not only facilitate better communication and co-ordination among freshers, faculty members and students, but also earn revenue for MNNIT as Parthenium has market value too," said Prof AB Samaddar.

The drive will initially be carried out near the MNNIT main building and thereafter it would be extended to other departments and hostel premises. The drive also holds importance as Parthenium is harmful weed which can cause serious skin disorders among the people. The cases of Asthama and respiratory problems are also caused by spreading of pollen of this grass.

The drive is unique in the sense that it will also mark the beginning of community service programmes at MNNIT.

Dean Students Affair (DSA) Prof Rakesh Narain while throwing light over the aim of the drive said that being a top NIT, the institute has decided to motivate its students to utilise the energy in creative work and make them aware of their social responsibilities.

It may be mentioned that MNNIT administration has taken various steps to check ragging menace including restricting seniors from entering the hostels of freshers and arranging faculty escorts for freshers between hostels and academic premises.

Prof Narain said that notices have already been circulated in all departments for keeping a check over ragging.

Meanwhile preparations for official freshers' party has also begun with elimination rounds in the campus. The senior students are supervising the preparations for the party which will include cultural items like dances, mimicry and singing. The rehearsals for the programme is going on at MP Hall complex.

In another unique initiative, the select senior students have been granted special permission for entering into Tagore Hostel which is right now playing host to the new comers.

"These select students will visit hostels and interact with freshers to provide them a sense of homely environment," said Prof Narain who added that generally it was found that ragging menace takes place in the absence of communication between freshers and the seniors.

He maintained that students will identify freshers with financially weak background and furnish the list of such students to the DSA office. "We have funds for such students and would make necessary arrangements to make essential items like books available to them" Prof Narain added.