Student Academic Grievance Cell

A student grievance is a complaint or concern raised by a student about an issue within their educational experience that they believe is unfair, discriminatory, or hindering their learning.

A Students' Grievance Redressal Committee (SGRC) is a body established within an educational institution to address and resolve the complaints raised by the students. Its primary function is to provide a platform for the students to voice their concerns and ensure those concerns are heard, addressed, and resolved in a fair and timely manner.

In conformity with the guidelines of Indian Nursing Council, New Delhi and in compliance with section 5, UGC New Delhi, Redress of Grievances of Students Regulations-2019,the instituteconstituted a‘’Students' Grievance Redressal Committee’’ during 2016 to receive and process the complaints lodged by the students regarding sexual harassment, ragging, academic matters, faculty interactions, internal examinations, university examinations, and other administrative issues.

Title: The policy shall be called as ‘Students' Grievance Redressal Committee(SGRC)

1. Aims:

• To maintain a harmonious and conducive learning environment for the students by addressing and resolving students’ grievances in a fair and timely manner.
• To set up a mechanism for speedy and expeditious process for resolving disputes and conflicts, ensuring that all parties involved have their concerns addressed.

2. Objectives:

• To develop and implement an institutional mechanism to address and resolvethe students’ grievances in a fair and timely manner.
• To redress the grievance with the highest standard of integrity, fairness and with confidentiality.
• To provide a platform for the students to voice their concerns related to grievances, with utmost anonymity, and ensure those grievances are heard, addressed, and resolved by the SGRC.
• To encourage the students to express their grievances or problems free and frank, without any fear of being victimized.
• To receive and process the complaints lodged by the students regarding sexual harassment, ragging, examinations, and administrative issues etc. and to resolve the grievances in a fair and timely manner.
• To follow the principles of natural justice in considering the grievances.
• To review the action taken based on the minutes of previous meeting and to make necessary suggestions&recommendations.
• To maintain records and relevant documents related to SGRC.

3. Functions:

• Developing and implementingan institutional mechanism to address and resolvethe students’ grievances in a fair and timely manner.
• Providing a platform for the students to voice their concerns related to grievances and ensure those grievances are heard, addressed, and resolved by the SGRC.
• Encouraging the students to express their grievances or problems free and frank, without any fear of being victimized.
• Receiving and processing the complaints lodged by the students regarding sexual harassment, ragging, examinations, and administrative issues etc. and to resolve the grievances in a fair and timely manner.
• Providing an appropriate counseling to the students in the process of resolving the grievance.
• Creating an awareness among students about the consequences of sexual harassment and ragging.
• Promoting a responsive and accountable attitude among all the stakeholders in order to maintain a harmonious academic atmosphere in the institution.
• Conducting the surveys to identify the problems of students and provide suitable solutions.
• Reviewing the action taken based on the minutes of previous meeting and to make necessary suggestions & recommendations.
• Maintaining records and relevant documents related to SGRC.
• Holding the meeting as per policy.

4. Aggrieved student:

It shall mean a ‘’complaint or concern raised by the student/s about an issue within their educational experience that they believe is unfair, discriminatory, or hindering their learning’’.

5. Committee:

It shallmean“the members of SGRC” constituted by Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Nursing Institute, Amravati – 444 603.

• Chairperson (head of the institute) – 01
• Secretary (any senior teacher) – 01
• Member (teacher Representative) – 02
• Member (student representative) – 02
• Member (representative from non-teaching staff) – 01

6. Tenure of committee:

The duration ofSGRC shall be of life-time from the date of its inception.

7. Meetings:

It shallmean the‘’meeting convened by the chairperson’’, SGRC, Dr. PDNI from time to time to discuss the matter related to students’ grievances / welfare.

8. Chairperson:

It shallmean ‘’head of the institution’’ of Dr. PDNI Amravati as a chairperson to the SGRC.

9. Secretary:

It shallmean ‘’any senior teacher’’ofDr. PDNI Amravati as a secretary to the SGRC.

10. Member:

It shall mean the ‘’nominated members of SGRC’’attending the meeting and addressing the concerns of the students.

11. Notice of meeting:

It shallmean the information circulated to the members of SGRC to attend the meeting. The secretary shall issue the notice of meeting, at least 7 days prior with date and time.

12. Quorum:

The presence of to 2/3 of members shall be necessary to conduct meeting of SGRC.

13. Frequency of meeting:

The SGRC shall hold meeting quarterly, or whenever required. Special meeting would be called after giving notice of 3 days to discuss the change of members, to add, amend / alter goals of committee, specific issues related to student grievances etc.

14. Procedure to hold SGRCmeeting:

Secretary of the SGRC shall consult the chairperson to fix a date, time & venue to convene the meeting. The Secretary shall make necessary arrangement to hold the meeting. The proceedings of meeting shall be recorded and the minutes of the meeting shall be circulated to all the members of SGRC with tentative date of next meeting.

15. Mechanism of receiving complaints regarding sexual harassment, ragging, caste discrimination / atrocities, and conducting enquiry, report submission and punishments.

Wide publicity shall be made among students, teachers and other non-teaching staff through notice boards,Whats-App, college web-site and awareness programs regardingprevention of sexual harassment, anti-ragging measures, atrocities, consequences, punishments, and how to approach the SGRC in case any untoward incidents.

a) Complaint registration:
In case of sexual harassment,ragging, caste discrimination or any other grievances,the committee shall receive the complaints through –

• Written complaint (should be submitted to secretary or any one of the committee members)
• Phone call (any help line number displayed on college notice board / web-page)
• By dropping the compliant at the grievance box
• A complaint can be received through a representative from the student community nominated by the head of the institution.

Female student or employee who have experienced or witnessed sexual harassment can also register a complaint through SAKSHAM Helpline Number for Prevention of Sexual Harassment: 1800111656, e-mail: gssec.ugc@nic.in Students who have experienced or witnessed ragging can register a complaint through the National Anti-Ragging Helpline (1800-180-5522) and the UGC Monitoring Agency (antiragging@c4yindia.org).

b) Inquiry initiation:

• Upon receiving a complaint, the chairperson shall depute the membersor form an enquiry teamto investigate the matter.
• The inquiry may involve gathering evidence, interviewing the complainant, the accused, and potential witnesses if available.

c) Evidence collection and analysis:

• The enquiry team gathers relevant information to understand the nature and extent of the sexual harassment, ragging, or an incident of caste discrimination.
• This may include reviewing documents, CCTV footage, and other available evidence.

d) Report submission:

• After completing the inquiry, the enquiry team submits a detailed report to the head of the institution.
• The report outlines the findings of the investigation, including the identity of those involved and the nature of the incident.

e) Action and punishment:

• Based on the report and recommendations, the head of the institution takes appropriate action as per guidelines.
• The institution may also report the incident to the police as per guidelines.

f) Documentation:
The secretary of SGRC shall document the grievance redressal for the purpose of record keeping.

16. Punishment:

Ragging and sexual harassment at the workplace is a punishable offence. The offender shall be punished as per law.

17. Zero Tolerance Policy in the institute:

• There shall be a zero-tolerance policy towards ragging and sexual harassment, i.e., any reported incident shall be taken seriously and dealt accordingly.
• Punishments shall include expulsion from the college, banning from further education, or handing over the case to the police.

18. Affidavits & undertakings:

• Students and parents are often required to sign affidavits and undertakings as part of the admission process, affirming their commitment to the preventive measures of ragging and sexual harassment.

19. Mechanism of receiving complaints regarding academic matters, exams, or other administrative issues– conducting enquiry, reportingand compliance:

Wide publicity shall be made among students through notice boards, Whats-App, college web-site and awareness programs regarding their grievances, and how to approach the SGRC for redressal.
Further, the students shall be encouraged to voice their concerns related to academic matters, faculty interactions, internal examinations, university examinations, and other administrative issues of the institution.

a) Complaint registration:
In case of grievances, the committee shall receive the complaint of aggrieved student through –

• Written complaint (should be submitted to secretary or any one of the committee members)
• Phone call (any help line number displayed on college notice board / web-page)
• By dropping the compliant at the grievance box
• A complaint can be received through a representative from the student community nominated by the head of the institution.
• However, the committee also reserves the right to receive the complaint on its own motion.
• If the complaint is found to be false or frivolous, disciplinary action will be taken.

b) Inquiry initiation:

• On receipt of a complaint, the SGRC shall fix a date for hearing the complaint which shall be communicated to the aggrieved student.
• Members of SGRC shall receive an information about the meeting at least 1 day prior to the date meeting during emergency situation, or week prior to the meeting in a normal case.
• An aggrieved student may appear either in person or authorize a representative to present the case before the SGRC.
• The inquiry may involve gathering evidence, interviewing the aggrieved student to ensure the genuineness of grievance, etc.
• If the SGRC is unable to come to a conclusion due lack of information/ evidence, they may postpone the meeting to next date.

c) Report submission:

• After completing the inquiry, the SGRC submits a detailed report to the head of the institutionwithin a period of 07 days from the date of receipt of the complaint.
• The report outlines the findings of the investigation and recommendations.

d) Action:

• Based on the report and recommendations, the head of the institution takes appropriate action to resolve grievance.
• A copy of the action taken shall be served to the aggrieved student for information.

e) Documentation:
The secretary of SGRC shall document the grievance redressal for the purpose of record keeping.

19. Mechanism of grievance redressal related internal assessment:

Three tier mechanism is set up by the institute to resolve the internal assessment related grievances. The aggrieved student shall adhere to the following for redressal;

• Firstly, the grievance will be brought to the notice of the concerned class teacher or subject teacher.
• Secondly, in case, if the grievance is not resolved/ unaddressed, the same can be escalated to the HOD of the concerned department.
• Finally, if the grievance still persists, the aggrieved student shall be referred to the SGRC for grievance redressal. The SGRC receives the compliant, and resolve the matter through the head of the institution.

20. Mechanism of grievance redressal at the time of university examination:

• The grievances at the time of MUHSexamination shall be solved according to the rules and regulations of MUHS made on this behalf.
• For grievances relating to question papers, answer sheets, examination room, seating arrangement,hallticketor identity card orany other matter concerned,the student shall to apply SGRC for redressal.
• The SGRC, if consultation with the head of the institute, shall solvethe problem at the earliest so as to continue examination in a smooth manner.

21. Mechanism of grievance redressal after university examination:

• The grievances afterMUHSexamination shall be solved according to the rules and regulations of MUHS made on this behalf.
• For grievances relating toresult, revaluation, mark sheet, or any other issues concerned, the student shall to apply SGRC for redressal.
• The SGRC, if consultation with the head of the institute, shall solvethe problem at the earliest so as to continue with the professional career.

1. Notice / Circular / Reports
2. Policy document on student grivance awareness
3. Policy document on machinism of student grievance redressal
4. Online application form gallery
5. Gallery