Muthoot Pappachan Foundation Launches Anti Ragging Campaign

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) August 10, 2009 -- Muthoot Pappachan Foundation as part of its corporate social responsibility launched its anti ragging campaign to raise the social awareness of the menace of ragging. As the first step towards the first of its kind initiative by any corporate in India, the foundation is planning to launch a national campaign through two Television Commercials with anti-ragging messages this season.

The Honorable Minister for Home, Sri. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan launched the Muthoot Anti-Ragging Initiative in the presence of media and various other dignitaries. Mr. Thomas John Muthoot and Mr. Thomas George Muthoot, Directors of the Group were also present on the occasion along with Muthoot Capital Services Ltd CEO, Mr.K. Manomohanan.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Thomas John Muthoot, the Director of MPG said “Our education system has changed and so has the funny simple pranks of ragging. Today it has taken the shape of a monster threatening the values, dignity and spirit of our education system and driving innocent students to take unfortunate steps. We represent a responsible society and we can’t watch this as mute spectators. By this initiative we would like to enhance the awareness levels in the society and on a long run strengthen the hands of our policy makers to come out with stringent rules against the menace of ragging.”
The TVC is STARK conceived and scripted. The TVC is directed by Sneha Verma and produced by Nirvana, the Vodafone Zuzu campaign fame.

Ragging' is an act which causes, or is likely to cause, physical, psychological or physiological harm resulting in injury or shame or embarrassment to a student. The practice of ragging involves senior students forcing the unorganized newcomers to undergo several forms of mental, physical and sexual abuses. The juniors are usually too frightened to resist their organized group of tormentors. With the increasing privatization of higher education in India, academic institutions in India have been experiencing increasing instances of ragging-related excesses.
Though ragging has ruined the lives of many students and caused misery to their parents and relatives, resistance against it has grown only recently. Several Indian states have enacted legislatures banning ragging, and the Supreme Court of India has taken a strong stand to curb ragging. Ragging has been made a "criminal offence". With the situation of ragging worsening year by year in the state, the foundation has decided to be the torch bearer in the anti-ragging movement in Kerala by setting an example for the industry also to come forward for supporting the cause.

About Muthoot Pappachan Foundation: Focus on the larger good of the society has played a principal role in the corporate history of Muthoot Pappachan Group. As the group grew from strength to strength, we also tried to make a difference in the lives of people by lending them a helping hand. The Group has set up the Foundation to make meaningful contributions towards humanitarian values.