New Delhi: The Human Resource Department (HRD) Ministry recently announced the setting up of an anti-ragging helpline and website for ragging victims to lodge their complaints.

A special unit will be deployed for investigating and handling the complaints.

The website would become functional before June 15, 2009.

The helpline is being initiated by the Education Consultants of India in association with NGOs working against the menace of ragging.

An independent unit would assist in investigating all the complaints against ragging.

The government is planning to adopt an independent investigative mechanism to ensure that educational institutes do not harass ragging victims for lodging their complaints.

"It has been noticed that action was taken against several students for lodging complaints against ragging," said a University Grants Commission (UGC) official.

The UGC is expected to finalize its guidelines for anti-ragging in a meeting to be held on May 18.