The National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued fresh directions to all medical colleges and institutions across the country, asking them to strengthen measures to prevent ragging, harassment, student suicides and mental health crises on campuses.
In its advisory, the Commission expressed concern over reported incidents of ragging, sexual harassment, mental harassment, physical assault, academic intimidation and suicides in medical institutions. It noted that several colleges have failed to effectively implement the Prevention and Prohibition of Ragging in Medical Colleges and Institutions Regulations, 2021, and called for immediate corrective action.
The NMC has instructed institutions to ensure that Anti-Ragging Committees and Anti-Ragging Squads are fully functional, strengthen mentor-mentee programmes and carry out regular compliance reviews. Colleges have also been directed to submit periodic reports detailing anti-ragging awareness drives, disciplinary action taken against offenders and student engagement initiatives.
The Commission identified several shortcomings in existing campus support systems, including the absence of accessible mental health services, non-functional Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) under the POSH Act, inadequate CCTV surveillance in hostels, excessive working hours for resident doctors, psychological harassment through academic pressure and social exclusion, and failure to report cases of suicide, attempted suicide or harassment.
To address these issues, the NMC has directed medical colleges to install and actively monitor CCTV cameras in hostels and common areas, establish student wellness centres staffed by qualified mental health professionals, conduct regular mental health audits and introduce mandatory psychological screening and counselling for students.
Institutions have also been asked to appoint student representatives for grievance redressal, organise faculty sensitisation programmes to curb academic harassment and favouritism, and adopt evidence-based suicide prevention protocols in collaboration with premier institutions such as NIMHANS and AIIMS.
The Commission warned that any institution found violating the 2021 Anti-Ragging Regulations or failing to implement the prescribed measures could face strict regulatory action.
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