India Tomorrow
HYDERABAD— On Thursday, a delegation of the National Federation of Girls Islamic Organisation (NFGIO) submitted a memorandum to Telangana Education Minister Subitha Indra Reddy, demanding an effective student grievance redressal cell in higher educational institutions.
The delegation included Adv Sumaiya Roshan (President), Samar Ali (General Secretary), and Rameesa Fatima (Secretary).
National Crime Record Bureau(NCRB) data show that 567 students of Telangana committed suicide in 2021 alone, including 224 girls.
Since the commencement of 2023, the cases of student suicide have peaked alarmingly.
Under the UGC guidelines, these grievance cells are responsible for inquiring into complaints and acting upon cases related to harassment in the institutions.
In addition to offline redressal mode, a few colleges have initiated online redressal portals also.
However, observing the recent trend of student suicide cases, the efficiency of these Cells seems questionable. The recent suicides of a PG medical student from Kakatiya Medical College, an engineering student of Warangal, and a student from English and Foreign Language University (EFLU) in Hyderabad substantiate it. “Though the government has assured to punish the accused, immediate and functional preventive efforts need further addressing,” said the memorandum.
The delegation demanded to warn all the colleges which still haven’t established the cell, with dire consequences for non-compliance. The existing cells must be restructured, including elected student representatives, making them more approachable and student-friendly. The scope of redressal must be expanded to include more student-related issues beyond the currently specified ones. A move to institute counselling units in the college is the need of time.
