New Delhi: With an aim to curb the increasing incidents of ragging, the University Grants Commission (UGC) is all set to start a national call centre to enable ragging victims from across the country to register their complaints by dialing a toll free number from today.

The helpline is equipped with software that will pass on the complaints directly to the head of the institution within 15 minutes to help the administration protect the victims.

The functioning of the helpline will be monitored by the UGC and it will be operational around the clock.

The Education Consultancy India Ltd (ECIL) has been entrusted with the job of setting up of the national call centre.

A strict guideline was issued by the UGC to set up the national call centre to enable ragging victims from across the country to register their complaints by dialing a toll free number.

The decision has been widely hailed by teachers and students, who feel this, would check the growing instances of ragging.

Further, under the Anti-Ragging Law, offenders can be fined up to Rs.2.5 lakh or rusticated for one to four semesters if found guilty.

The new provisions laid down by the UGC also requires that the parents and students give a written undertaking, at the time of admission, that they are aware of the ragging guidelines and will report any such incident.

"This is a welcome step taken by the UGC. It will boost the confidence of new students," said a fresher.