Kerala is set to introduce a mobile application that will allow students to anonymously report ragging and other campus-related grievances, as part of a broader initiative to strengthen student safety and promote scientific awareness across the state. The government will also establish 300 science centres to encourage scientific temper and inquiry-based learning among young people.According to PTI, Chief Minister V D Satheesan is scheduled to launch the Siddharth Student Welfare App and the science awareness initiative at Government Women’s College in Thiruvananthapuram on November 4. The programme, scheduled for 11:30 am, will also mark the inauguration of the first sub-centre of the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Scientific Temper.Higher Education Minister Roji M John will preside over the event. Transport Minister C P John is also expected to attend, according to an official statement.
Siddharth Student Welfare App to enable anonymous ragging complaints
The Siddharth Student Welfare App is being developed as a confidential grievance-reporting platform for students across educational institutions in Kerala. It will enable students to flag incidents of ragging, harassment, and other campus-related problems without revealing their identities.A key feature of the application will be the facility to submit audio complaints anonymously. The platform is also expected to alert the concerned authorities about safety-related concerns, allowing institutions and the relevant officials to take appropriate action.The application has been named after J S Sidharthan, a 20-year-old veterinary student from Nedumangad who allegedly died by suicide in February 2024 following ragging by fellow students at the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences in Pookode, Wayanad.The incident had raised concerns over student safety, institutional accountability and the effectiveness of existing anti-ragging mechanisms in higher education institutions.
Kerala considers Siddharth Anti-Ragging Act
Alongside the proposed mobile application, the state government is examining a draft of the Siddharth Anti-Ragging Act to strengthen the legal framework for addressing ragging in educational institutions.According to the minister, the proposed legislation is intended to provide statutory backing to the initiative and facilitate the establishment of a state-level anti-ragging commission.The proposed commission is expected to form part of the state’s broader institutional response to complaints of ragging and student welfare concerns. The move also seeks to strengthen mechanisms for addressing grievances and improving accountability within educational institutions.The application and proposed legislation are being taken forward as part of efforts to make campuses safer and provide students with accessible channels to report incidents without fear of disclosure.
300 science centres planned across Kerala to reach 15 lakh young people
In a separate initiative, the Kerala State Higher Education Council is spearheading a programme to establish 300 science centres across the state. The initiative aims to reach approximately 15 lakh young people and promote scientific temper, humanism and a culture of inquiry.The programme will extend beyond conventional classroom-based science education. It will include online courses, educational handbooks and short video reels focusing on scientific temper and rational thinking.An online course developed in association with the Centre for Development of Imaging Technology (C-DIT) will also be launched as part of the programme.The proposed network of science centres is intended to provide young people and members of the wider public with opportunities to engage with scientific ideas and develop an evidence-based approach to understanding issues.
Student Aspiration Survey to be released
The state government will also release a Student Aspiration Survey to assess the expectations, interests and aspirations of students in the higher education sector.The survey is expected to provide insights into students’ perspectives and help understand their expectations from higher education institutions. Its findings could also inform discussions on student welfare, educational opportunities and institutional development.Together, the initiatives cover two areas of higher education policy: strengthening mechanisms to address campus-related grievances and expanding access to scientific awareness programmes.While the Siddharth Student Welfare App is intended to provide students with a confidential channel to report ragging and other concerns, the proposed science centres seek to encourage scientific temper among young people across Kerala.(With inputs from PTI)
