Pubdate: Mon, 24 Dec 2007
Source: Telegraph, The (India)
Copyright: 2007 The Telegraph
Contact:  http://www.telegraphindia.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2836

PLEDGE TO WEED OUT SOCIAL ILLS

Students Declare War on Bandh, Drugs, Ragging & Private Tuition

Students of Guwahati's 10 leading colleges today resolved to put up a 
joint fight against bandh culture, ragging, private tuition and drug abuse.

A resolution to this effect was taken at a meeting organised by the 
Assam unit of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) at 
Sudmerson Hall of Cotton College this afternoon.

The NSUI, the students' wing of the Congress, also felicitated the 
office-bearers of the students' unions of the colleges.

"Besides felicitating the students' representatives, the NSUI 
organised a discussion on the four relevant issues. The participants 
exchanged views on the adverse effect of the ills plaguing society. 
At the end of the meeting, the representatives of the 10 colleges 
agreed to adopt a resolution," the president of the state unit of the 
NSUI, Bibhuti Bhusan Borthakur, said.

"Students affected by bandhs, ragging, private tuition and addiction 
to drugs must unite to fight the social malaise."

The representatives resolved to organise a series of awareness 
campaigns and meetings in their colleges from next month on the 
issues, particularly the bandh culture and drug addiction.

There will be interaction sessions between teachers and students to 
check private tuition.

Efforts will be made to strengthen anti-ragging cells and committees 
of the colleges to prevent incidents of ragging. The meeting adopted 
a resolution to constitute a co-ordination committee by the NSUI to 
keep in touch with the colleges for effective implementation of the 
initiatives planned to solve the problems.

"It is high time the student community raises its voice against the 
bandh culture. There are so many organisations which call bandhs at 
the drop of a hat," the vice-president of the Cotton College Union 
Society, Munin Bora, said.

"Students are the worst-affected by the bandh culture.  We also have 
to fight against drug addiction. Many students are ruining their 
brilliant careers after taking to drugs. The NSUI deserves praise for 
uniting different colleges to fight against the problems," Bora said.

Drug abuse has not only compounded the problem of AIDS but also taken 
a heavy toll on the physical and mental health of the youths.

Students' representatives from Cotton College, B.  Borooah College, 
J.B. Law College, Handique Girls' College, Pandu College, Pragjyotish 
College, Guwahati College, Dispur College, Lalit Chandra Bharali 
College and College of Veterinary Science attended today's meeting. 
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