Selecting the right course and college is always challenging! And there is another factor that has to be considered while deciding the college in which you wish to enroll in. This factor is regarding the safety and security of students.
In West Bengal, a state with a rich educational and cultural heritage, there are a good number of colleges which can provide the right safe and secure environment for a student to learn and grow.
In this state, there are government-aided colleges and universities, missionary run institutions as well as private universities /colleges. In this blog we shall explain what factors make a college safer than others and also discuss the best colleges in terms of safety and security.
Factors that Determine the Safety Level of an Institution
Parents are naturally concerned about the safety and environment of college and university campuses. Safety in higher education has multiple dimensions. The key concerns include:
- Physical Safety on Campus:- Whether students are safe within the campus premises, especially in hostels. Parents worry about incidents of rowdyism, violence, or physical intimidation.
- Ragging and Bullying:- Ragging has been a serious issue in Indian educational institutions, including reputed ones like the IITs. Ensuring a strict anti-ragging policy is a major safety factor.
- Gender-Related Safety Concerns:-
The risk of harassment, exploitation, or gender-based discrimination is another major concern. Institutions must have proper grievance redressal mechanisms in place. - Student Politics and Campus Unrest:- In states like West Bengal, student politics—often linked to larger political parties—has sometimes led to campus unrest or violence, raising concerns among parents.
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Safety Concern Issues in Colleges
1.Ragging, Bullying or Rowdyism:
These are the most worrying issues for parents who are sending their daughters/sons to college after class 12. Ragging of course is the greatest concern. There have ben multiple cases of suicides, even in top notch institutions such as the IITs, caused by ragging. The government has taken strong steps against the practice but it still persists in some institutions in different forms or is carried out discreetly.
2. Gender-specific Problems and Misogyny:
The government has been very firm about implementing strict laws against gender related problems. Through the University Grants Commission (UGN), the government has implemented the UGC (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of Sexual Harassment Regulations, 2015) to curb the problem of misogyny in higher educational institutions.
Under this law all colleges and universities are required to set up an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) headed by a senior lady faculty member and with 50% of the ICC being women.
3. Student Politics:
West Bengal, like several other states in west Bengal, has a history of active student politics, often linked to established parties. Student politics, especially in state aided colleges, have often led to violence. Parents of students are worried about the fall out of student politics and look for colleges where the influence of student politicking is minimal or absent.
4. Health and Hygiene Concerns:
Parents are often worried about the quality of food and residence in students’ hostels as contaminated food could lead to illness among students.
Enjoy a Ragging-Free Campus at Inspiria! See our Anti-Ragging Policy.
Best Colleges in Terms of Safety and Security in West Bengal
Inspiria Knowledge Campus, Siliguri
Inspiria Knowledge Campus, established in 2015, is one of the top colleges in Siliguri offering professional courses. Affiliated to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology (MAKAUT), Inspiria aims to make education-relevant, ultra-practical, and job-oriented.
To make students more employable, they are provided invaluable practical exposure and industry insights through real project assignments, skill-building field trips and practical learning.
Located in the suburbs of Siliguri on the foothills of Darjeeling, Inspiria boasts a serene, green and picturesque campus with a highly safe and secure environment. The campus is under 24/7 CCTV surveillance and students are able to maintain a clean and healthy lifestyle with facilities of physical and mental development.
👉 Talk to Our Admission Counselor to Know About Campus Security & Hostel Facilities.
St. Xaviers College, Kolkata
St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata, founded in 1860 and managed by the Jesuits, is a premier autonomous institution in India known for academic excellence, rich heritage, and a diverse, vibrant learning community.
Ranked 6th nationally by NIRF in 2024, it offers varied undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Arts, Science, Commerce, Management, and Education. Located in the posh Park street locality, the college has a rich architecture and overall an impressive infrastructure.
As far issues of safety are concerned, St Xavier’s College has a reputation for its disciplined campus which is often stated as being “school-like: There is a high security for students, especially girl students. There have been little or no reports of incidents affecting students safety in the campus.
Loreto College, Kolkata
Located on Middleton Row, near the posh Park Street area, Loreto is acclaimed for its high academic excellence, consistently holding a NAAC ‘A’ grade and recognized as a “College of Excellence”. The college offers traditional degrees in the Arts and Humanities and boasts a 2.75 acre campus with a huge, heritage building.
The college is acknowledged for its safe environment for its female students. Students often refer to the campus as a place with a homely feeling – safe and secure.
Bethune College, Kolkata
Bethune College is the first women’s college in Asia and a premier institution in the country. It was founded by John Elliot Drinkwater Bethune in 1879. Affiliated to the University of Kolkata, it is now government-aided running several UG and PG courses. The college has an A level grading by NAAC and ranked 77th in India under the NIRF in 2021. The college has ICT enabled classrooms, a lady’s hostel, a gymnasium and a garden for medicinal plants.
The college is regarded highly safe as it has a ragging-free atmosphere, CCTV surveillance, high boundary walls and maintains a highly disciplined and non-political ambience.
👉 Check Our Women Safety & ICC Committee Details.
NHSM, Kolkata
Affiliated to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology (*MAKAUT), NSHM Knowledge Campus was established in Kolkata in 2006. It is NAAC A+ accredited, AICTE approved and runs UG and PG courses in Business Management, Engineering, Health Sciences, Media and Design. It is a leading private institution of Kolkata.
NSHM is generally considered a safe institution for students with no major report of indiscipline or controversy.
St Joseph’s College, Darjeeling
St Joseph’s College Darjeeling, established in 1927 by the Belgian Jesuits, is a premier educational institution of the Darjeeling hills. Affiliated to the University of Darjeeling, the college is known for its peaceful and serene environment. The college offers UG and some PG courses and boasts good infrastructure.
The college is regarded as safe and reputable, due to its disciplined, structured environment with strict dress codes and rules, as well as prohibitions for maintaining decorum.
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Conclusion
There is no doubt that safety and security are equally important factors to be taken into consideration while choosing a college. There is no point in enrolling in a college highly regarded for its academic excellence but lacking in aspects relating to the safety and security of its students. In the past, several top notch colleges in Kolkata suffered due to politics and violence in the campus. Presidency College Kolkata is a glaring example of such.
Today however the situation has considerably changed and most colleges in West Bengal now enforce the required rules and regulations to maintain safe campuses and a ragging-free environment.
