Awareness/Sensitization programme on Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace

Chandigarh, December 15, 2023: The Department-cum-Centre for Women’s Studies & Development, Panjab University, Chandigarh organised an Awareness/Sensitization programme on the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal Act, 2013) for the faculty, non-teaching staff, research scholars, students of the university on December 15, 2023. Dr. Ameer Sultana, Senior Faculty, of the Department delivered a talk on the prevention, prohibition and redressal act, 2013 concerning sexual harassment of women at workplace.

By narrating the sexual violence perpetrated against Bhanwari Devi, Sathin, she explained the origin of the Vishakha guidelines and the foundation of the Sexual Harassment Act, 2013. She articulated that the incidence of sexual harassment is prevalent in public as well as private spaces, and the implicit/explicit aspects of sexual harassment were discussed. The case studies of #Metoo movement, Nari Niketan case, boss-stenographer, teacher-student, employer-employee, domestic help in the households, were analysed to understand the patriarchal ethos/mentality in the perpetrator’s psyche. The socio-cultural attitudes which hinder the filing of complaint against sexual harassment was highlighted. To sensitize the students regarding the types of sexual harassment, a documentary was also shown to the audience stressing upon the double-meaning jokes, showing of pornography, and gender-insensitive language. The subtle ways in which the sexual harassment takes place, was also elaborated upon.

“What does not constitute sexual harassment”, like, performance appraisal for better job performance, office rules and working expectations, was explicitly mentioned. The workable solutions which emerged from the gendered discourse was need for generating more awareness regarding the act, the constituents of the complaint, the number of days in which the complaint is to be filed, maintaining strict confidentiality of the girl/woman, etc. The strong backlash if a woman files a complaint of sexual harassment was also discussed threadbare. Faster complaint redressal mechanisms and conciliation without monetary settlement was stressed upon. The enforcement of mandatory action, in case the complaint is proved, was also emphasized. Also, in case of a malicious complaint, action against the erring complainant was also highlighted. The speaker concluded her talk with suggesting more generation of awareness for the effective enforcement of the act, zero tolerance for sexual harassment at the workplace, and “A Safe Workplace is every woman’s right”. The special lecture was followed by extensive deliberations from the participants, across disciplines.

Dr. Rajesh K. Chander, Officiating Chairperson, in his remarks called for more reporting of the sexual harassment cases, and the effective enforcement of the act, and speedy justice for the aggrieved women. An egalitarian, safe and inclusive workplace can ensure the achievement of goal of gender equality in near future. In his formal vote of thanks; first and foremost, he thanked Prof. Renu Vig, Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rumina Sethi, DUI, & Prof. Y.P. Verma, Registrar, and the DCWSD organising team for providing the motivation, encouragement and support to organise the sensitization programme. The expert lecture-cum-workshop was organised to commemorate the decade-old notification of the Sexual Harassment Act on December 9, 2013; as advised by the University Grants Commission (UGC). The sensitization programme was well attended by participants across sciences & social sciences. Dr. Anjali Vasishat, Research Associate, conducted the stage proceedings in the programme.