The Keralam anti-ragging app initiative will provide students with a confidential platform to report ragging and other campus-related concerns without revealing their identities. Alongside the application, the state government plans to establish 300 scientific temper centres to promote scientific awareness among 15 lakh young people.
Chief Minister V D Satheesan is scheduled to launch both initiatives at Government Women's College in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday, November 5. The programmes are part of the government's efforts to strengthen student welfare and encourage scientific thinking in higher education institutions.
300 Scientific Temper Centres to Reach 15 Lakh Young People
Satheesan will inaugurate the first sub-centre of the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Scientific Temper at an event scheduled for 11.30 am.
Higher Education Minister Roji M John will preside over the programme, which will also be attended by Transport Minister C P John.
The initiative, led by the Keralam State Higher Education Council, aims to promote scientific temper, humanism and inquiry-based thinking among students and the wider public.
The programme plans to reach 15 lakh young people through 300 centres across the state. It will also include online courses, educational handbooks and short video reels.
An online course developed in association with C-DIT will be formally launched as part of the programme.
Siddharth Student Welfare App to Enable Anonymous Complaints
The government will also introduce the Siddharth Student Welfare App, designed to help students report ragging and other campus-related problems confidentially.
According to the minister, the application will allow students to submit audio complaints anonymously and alert the relevant authorities about safety concerns.
The app has been named after J S Sidharthan, a 20-year-old veterinary student from Nedumangad who allegedly died by suicide in February 2024 after being subjected to ragging by fellow students at the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences in Pookode, Wayanad.
The initiative is intended to give students a safer channel to seek assistance and report incidents without disclosing their identities.
Draft Siddharth Anti-Ragging Act Under Consideration
The state government is also considering a draft of the Siddharth Anti-Ragging Act. The proposed legislation aims to establish a legal framework for the initiative and facilitate the formation of a state anti-ragging commission.
Additionally, the government will release the Student Aspiration Survey, which seeks to understand the expectations and aspirations of students in the higher education sector.
Minister Roji M John said the initiatives reflect the government's efforts to encourage scientific thinking, strengthen student welfare and make educational institutions more progressive and student-friendly.
The effectiveness of the measures will depend on their implementation, particularly the ability of the complaint system to protect students' confidentiality and ensure timely action on reported concerns.
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