In fact, a student's single call will immediately go to the head of his institution and the district authority. A supervising authority, likely to be an NGO, will also get to monitor what action has been taken on a student's complaint. "The helpline (1800-180-5522) will operate round-the-clock and function as a watchdog. Once a student calls and registers a complaint, the process of giving him assistance will start within 15 minutes," HRD minister Kapil Sibal said after launching the helpline.

HRD ministry and UGC's anti-ragging helpline has come as a part of a Supreme Court directive to the government to put in place a tough regulatory mechanism.

The helpline to be operated by Education Consultancy India Ltd (EdCIL) and BSNL will operate the helpline on behalf of UGC. The commission will create a database compiling information provided by students in their affidavits during admission. The information will be stored in an IT-enabled web portal.

When a student calls up the toll-free number 1800-180-5522, the agents at the call centre will ask him about the issue and details. Then the complaint will be registered. The call will be assigned a unique number which will be given to the complainant for future tracking. Students can also file complaints through email at helpline@antiragging.net, Sibal said. Another helpline will be soon made functional.

However, Raj Kachroo, father of Aman Kachroo who lost his life in ragging in Himachal Pradesh, issued a statement about the cost of helpline. He said, "It is highly regrettable that UGC rejected the offer made by some of the best known companies in the business of call centres to set up the anti-ragging call centre and instead they chose EdCIL/BSNL combination. EdCIL has no experience of running call centres and the track record of BSNL in its own customer service is not exemplary."