Cell Against
Harassment and Atrocities against Women
Sexual
Harassment at the Workplace
In 1997, the Supreme Court recognised and addressed the issue of sexual
harassment at the workplace. The judgement created mandatory sexual
harassment prevention guidelines for the workplace, applicable all over
India. The knowledge and information about it can lead to a workplace free
of sexual harassment for all persons.
Sexual harassment injects the most demeaning sexual stereotypes into the
general work environment and always represents an intentional assault on a
person’s innermost privacy.
What is
Sexual Harassment?
According the Supreme Court order, sexual harassment is any unwelcome:
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Physical contact and advances
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Demand or request for sexual favours
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Sexually coloured remarks
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Display of pornography
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Any other unwelcome physical, verbal and non-verbal conduct of a sexual
nature.
Basically it is any unwelcome words or actions of sexual nature.
Examples:
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Denial of payment or official approval in the absence of sexual favours
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Pornographic pictures/messages displayed on desks or sent by email
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Remarks made about personal appearance and dress
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Coloured jokes shared in the office that make others present feel
uncomfortable.
Cell Against
Harassment and Atrocities Against Women, University of Pune
In keeping with the Supreme Court guidelines, the Management Council of the
University of Pune through a resolution adopted on 10th July 2001
established a Cell Against Harassment and Atrocities Against Women at the
workplace.
Functions of the Cell
The office of the Cell is
an educational resource as well as a complaint centre for the
members of the faculty, staff and students of the University. Its
mandate is
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To provide a neutral, confidential and
supportive environment for members of the campus community who
may have been sexually harassed;
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To advice complainants of the informal and
formal means of resolution as specified by the Cell;
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To ensure the fair and timely resolution
of sexual harassment complaints;
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To provide information regarding
counselling and support services on our campus
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To ensure that students, faculty and staff
are provided with current and comprehensive materials on sexual
harassment and assault;
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To promote awareness about sexual
harassment through educational initiatives that encourages and
fosters a respectful and safe campus environment.
The Cell seeks to inform
the campus community of their right to a respectful work and
learning environment. It believes that if we practice respect,
exercise empathy in our interactions with others so that we do not
hurt anyone through what we say or do then we can create a campus
that is free of sexual harassment. Simple respect for all on the
campus community is thus the focus.
The Cell seeks to
achieve these goals through:
Dissemination of
Information – through production, distribution and circulation
of printed materials, posters and handouts
Awareness Workshops – about sexual harassment for faculty,
non-teaching staff and students. The aim is to develop
nonthreatening and non-intimidating atmosphere of mutual learning.
Counselling – Confidential counselling service is an
important service as it provides a safe space to speak about the
incident and how it has affected the victim because sexual
harassment cases are rarely reported and is a sensitive issue.
Functioning of the Cell: The Complaint Mechanism
Procedure to file/report a complaint:
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The
complainant will have to submit a written and signed complaint
addressed to the Secretary of the Cell.
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The
counsellor will call the complainant for a personal meeting,
usually within a week from the submission of the written
complaint.
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The
members of the Cell will discuss the complaint.
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If
the case falls outside the purview of the Cell, the complainant
will be informed about the same by the appropriate authority.
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If
the case comes under the purview of the Cell, an enquiry
committee will be set up. The Committee will submit a report and
recommend the nature of action to be taken at the earliest by
the appropriate authority.
Current
Members of the Cell:
Neelam
Gorhe (Chairperson)
Prof. D.N. Dhanagre
Capt. (Retd.) C.M. Chitale
Prof. Nandkumar Nikam
Kiran Moghe
Parveen Sayyed
Sharmila Rege (Secretary)
For more information contact:
Secretary
Cell Against Harassment and Atrocities Against Women
Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule Women’s Studies Centre
University of Pune,
Pune 411 007
Ph: 25601300 |
