Safety systems are in place, but more needs to be done
NEED TO GEAR UP Colleges are not doing enough to curb sexual harassment and violence on campuses, an HT Education online survey of students reveals
Days after the Capital was rocked by yet another horrific incident of a 25-year-old woman being raped in a cab, an HT Education online poll of 714 young visitors, mostly college and university students across India, to its website (www. hindustantimes.com/education/) had some startling revelations. Those polled said that their colleges and universities were not doing enough to curb sexual harassment or violence on campuses. About 37% said their teachers were not gender-sensitive; and 30% said they had dealt with a sexual harassment case.
Asked if their colleges were doing enough to curb sexual harassment or violence on campus; 50% said the institutes “were not serious about it,” while 34% said they were happy with the initiatives. Forty eight per cent said their college did not have a sexual harassment cell or policy redressal mechanism. Thirty seven per cent said their teachers were not gender-sensitive. Though a majority of respondents (63%) said they had not encountered any instance of sexual harassment on campus, 31% said they had. A heartening 68% said they would make all efforts to report a sexual harassment/violence case on campus, but 27% said they would be too scared to report.
Nearly 43% of students felt that their colleges would take action or support a victim of sexual harassment. Sixty five per cent said they could not imagine studying in an institute which did not have a firm sexual harassment policy or cell. In what seems to be indicative of young people getting fed-up of the harassment of women, 56% said they would want to get involved in safety initiatives of their colleges. Surprisingly, 25% said they did not have the time to get involved and 20% said they were already helping their institute handle such cases. Students who have faced violence also admitted to being depressed and losing focus (27%). The most positive reaction came from 57% respondents, who said they had faced life courageously after being harassed or molested. No, institutes are not serious enough
Yes. Happy with the initiatives of the colleges
Can’t say No Yes
Not comfortable discussing it with anyone
JAWAHARLAL NEHRU UNIVERSITY
Gender sensitisation committee Orientation camps
UNIVERSITY OF DELHI Internal complaints committee Refresher courses for teachers
BANARAS HINDU UNIVERSITY Complaints committee comprising about 11 members
PRESIDENCY UNIVERSITY, KOLKATA
Committee against sexual harassment
BANGALORE UNIVERSITY SPARSH and GD policy in place No Yes Don’t know about it Yes No
Parents, teachers didn’t allow student to report
About 714 students responded to HT Education’s (www.hindustantimes.com/education/) online poll from around India on sexual harassment and violence on campuses. In order to strengthen women’s safety measures on campuses, the University Grants Commission (UGC) had also asked universities and institutes across the country to implement the recommendations of a task force which had suggested improvement of infrastructure and formulation of guidelines to deal with sexual harassment cases.
Jamia Millia Islamia has a sexual harassment committee called Sensitisation Prevention and Redressal of Sexual Harassment (SPARSH) which includes the apex body of SPARSH and the university complaints committee. “The committee is aimed at dealing with cases of sexual harassment on campus and raise awareness about gender-based discrimination, and other acts of sexual violence. It has four members and was set up in accordance with the The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013,” says Professor Mehtab Manzar, chairperson of the committee at JMI.
Sensitising the students about gender issues and how they can help curb cases of sexual harassment are some of this panel’s main initiatives, besides dealing with complaints and cases. Both parties are called separately and a joint meeting takes place, too. The cases are then referred to the vice chancellor and the university provides full support to the affected student, including counselling. Complaints are registered with strict confidentiality and students are encouraged to come up and raise their voices. Only four cases of sexual harassment have been registered with the committee in the last three years.
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) policy against sexual harassment was announced in 1999, and the Gender Sensitisation Committee Against Sexual Harassment (GSCASH) was STAND UP AND SPEAK
If possible, try and tell the person to stop. Be firm while telling the person that you do not like a certain behaviour which should end. There are times when the person harassing you is unaware that it is offensive
GATHER INFORMATION AND SUPPORT
If you feel you cannot speak up, confide in one of your friends, family or college/university resources for help
COLLECT PROOF
Gather any record, letters, e-mail, messages you have if set up vide a Jawaharlal Nehru University notification in the same year. Reports of sexual harassment are taken seriously and dealt with care and confidentiality. GSCASH organises orientation camps, workshops, to spread awareness on the subject. About 200 complaints have been registered with GSCASH since its inception.
At the University of Delhi (DU), each college is supposed to have its own sexual harassment committee besides the university having an Internal Complaints Committee. The ICC comprises six members of which one member is from outside the university the situation continues for long. While it is difficult to do so try to take note of witnesses, nature of harassment, where it happened, date, time and what was said
SPREAD AWARENESS
While many institutions conduct seminars, workshops etc to raise awareness on the issue, as a student, you can always spread the word
REPORT THE MATTER Reporting the matter would not only help you in finding a solution, it will also give you the courage to stand up and speak for yourself and two are male members. The committee functions as per the rules specified in the Sexual Harassment Act. At the college level, every report pertaining to a sexual harassment case has to be submitted to the governing body while the ICC has to submit reports related to cases with the university registrar. As per a notification released by the university in June 2014, all deans, directors and heads of departments must take necessary measures to gender sensitise and create a safe environment for all staff and students. They are also required to submit a report every year by March 31 on relevant steps taken.