Bhubaneswar: Over the past two years, the Odisha Higher Education Department has registered eight complaints from women students alleging ragging, sexual harassment and discrimination in different colleges and a university, Minister Suryabanshi Suraj informed the Assembly on Friday.
Replying to a written query by BJD MLA Arvind Mohapatra, Suraj said two of the complaints originated from Government Autonomous College in Rourkela. The remaining allegations were reported from F M Autonomous College in Balasore, G M University in Sambalpur, Abhimanyu Samanta Singhar Degree College in Jajpur, Athamalik College in Angul, Anchal College in Bargarh and D A V Autonomous College in Titlagarh.
To curb such incidents, the department has advised all higher education institutions to promote the use of the national mental health support line, Tele-Manas (14416), which offers free 24×7 counselling. A companion mobile app is also available for students who wish to use self-assessment tools, the minister noted.
The state has additionally directed colleges and universities to strictly enforce the University Grants Commission’s 2023 norms for student grievance redressal. These regulations call for the creation of Student Grievance Redressal Committees in every institution and the appointment of ombudspersons at the university level. Issues ranging from admission-related complaints and evaluation disputes to delays in certificates, discrimination, harassment and infrastructure gaps fall under their purview.
“All institutions are required to resolve student grievances within the stipulated time, and protection of complainants from any form of retaliation is mandatory,” Suraj said.
The government has also rolled out the “Shaktishree” initiative—an exclusive programme aimed at enhancing safety, security and empowerment of female students on campuses. Under this scheme, every higher education institution will set up a Shaktishree Empowerment Cell, jointly led by a woman faculty member and a female student. The cell will organise safety awareness activities, self-defence training and programmes supporting emotional well-being, with the broader goal of creating safer and more inclusive learning environments.
