UGC Issues Safety Guidelines for Women at Higher Education Institutes: How Can We Contribute?

University Grants Commission (UGC) released a list of guidelines for the safety and security of students, especially women, at higher education institutions (HEIs). Regularly, UGC issues instructions for the benefit of institutions and other stakeholders. Following the path set by the National Education Policy 2022, UGC released the “Guidelines for Basic facilities and amenities for a safe, secure environment for Women and Women Cell (for sensitization, policy implementation, monitoring and grievance redressal) in HEIs.”

In light of the recent crime reports from multiple institutes such as Miranda House, IIT Madras, and Chandigarh University, UGC decided to take a step in the direction of women’s safety on campus. They formed a committee earlier this year and charged it with analyzing and revising the safety regulations for higher institutions. The committee suggested that the UGC's previous study, "Saksham: Measures to Ensure Women's Safety and Programs for Gender Sensitization on Campuses," could act as a manual for implementing gender sensitization initiatives in higher education institutions (HEIs).

As per the guidelines, HEIs must ensure students receive a handbook with complete information regarding policies and guidelines to ensure proper behavioural conduct. Universities must strictly implement the formation of an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) at every institution. If a student faces mental health issues or emotional distress, the university must provide on-campus counselling services. HEIs must submit a quarterly report to the UGC stating their steps to promote student safety on campus.

How Can We Contribute to the Safety of Students on Campus? 

While UGC has set clear expectations for all higher education institutions (HEIs), we as citizens are equally responsible for ensuring our own safety and creating a secure environment for our peers. We can follow the below-mentioned steps to take our first step towards a safe and secure campus:

• Students must ensure to implement the buddy system while travelling to any place, especially at night or alone. They must travel with one or more friends and always try to use public transport.
• Students must share their live location while travelling alone with a trusted friend or family member, along with their travel details.
• They must always carry some cash with them if they are stranded alone in an unknown place without immediate help.
• If students ever sense danger, they must not hesitate to scream for help loudly or call the emergency number.

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