NGO, cops join hands against ragging in DU

An NGO along with the Delhi police is running a campaign in the Delhi University campus targeting ragging and substance abuse.

Leaders For Tomorrow (LFT), an organisation working towards harnessing leadership skills and social volunteerism in young people, launched the campaign last week with the help of police.

The Anti Drugs, Anti Ragging Campaign (ADAR) calls on students to pledge themselves against ragging and drug abuse.

“We have reached as many as five lakh students and spoken to them of the dangers of ragging and drug abuse. In the first phase of our campaign, we are targeting 57 colleges in DU,” said Suraj Nair, president for the Delhi cell of LFT.

“By the end of the second phase, we would have taken our campaign to 250 colleges, including colleges in the Indraprastha University and other private colleges,” Nair added.

 Explaining the modus operandi of the NGO, Uma P, national vice president of LFT said, “The idea is not to preach to the students. There are many freshers and juniors, who give in to smoking or drinking just to fit in with the crowd.”

“We want to encourage them to fight the peer pressure and realise that there are ways available to fight drug addiction.”

Breaking down myth

The ADAR campaign also seeks to break down the myth that ragging is the only way for interaction between juniors and seniors.

Ipsita Singh, a member of the LFT said being ragged was a ‘traumatic’ experience and that she would never rag her juniors.

“Juniors are more secure and happy when they don't fear ragging. There is difference between an introduction and ragging and one must learn not to cross that line” she added.