Anti Sexual Harassment Cell

PREAMBLE

For the effective enforcement of the basic human rights of gender equality and guarantee against sexual harassment and abuse, the Anti-Sexual Harassment Cell has been constituted in the college to provide a congenial and conducive atmosphere in which students, teachers and non-teaching staff can work together in an environment free of violence, harassment, exploitation, and intimidation. This includes all forms of gender violence, sexual harassment and discrimination on the basis of gender.

OBJECTIVES

• To develop guidelines and norms for policies against sexual harassment and to
  ensure the implementation of the policy in letter and spirit through proper reporting of
  the complaints and their follow-up procedures.
• To prepare a detailed plan of actions, both short and long term
•  To organize gender sensitization awareness programme.
• To deal with cases of discrimination and sexual harassment in a time bound manner,
  aiming at ensuring support services to the victimized
•  To provide an environment free of gender-based discrimination.
• To ensure equal access of all facilities and participation in activities of the college
• To promote a social and psychological environment that will raise awareness about
  sexual harassment in its various forms.

WHAT IS SEXUAL HARASSEMENT?

Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexually determined behavior (whether directly or by implication) such as:

• Verbal or Physical threats.
• Insulting, Abusive, Embarrassing or Patronizing behaviour or Comments.
• Offensive gestures, Language, Rumours, Gossip or Jokes.
• Humiliating, Intimidating, Demeaning and/or Persistent criticism, Open hostility.
•  Suggestive comments or Body language.
•  Isolation or Exclusion from normal work or study place.
•  Publishing, Circulating or Displaying pornographic, Racist, Sexually suggestive or
  Otherwise offensive pictures or other materials.
•  Unwanted physical contact, Ranging from an invasion of space to a serious assault

ASSURANCE

Anti-Sexual Harassment Cell assures all the complaints of the students, teaching and non-teaching staffs are treated with dignity and respect and the complaints should be maintained confidential.

JURISDICTION

The rules and regulations outlined in this policy shall be applicable to all complaints of sexual harassment made:

1. By a member of the institution against any other member irrespective of whether the
   harassment is alleged to have taken place within or outside the campus.
2. By an outsider against a member of the college or by a member of the college
   against an outsider if the sexual harassment is alleged to have taken place within the
   campus.
3. By a member of the college against an outsider if the sexual harassment is alleged to
   have taken place outside the campus. In such cases the Committee shall
   recommend that the college authorities initiate action by making a complaint with the
   appropriate authority. Further, the committee will actively assist and provide available
   resources to the complainant in pursuing the complaint.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY OF ANTI-SEXUAL HARASSMENT COMMITTEE:

To ensure the provision of a work and educational environment that is free from sexual harassment

To take all reasonable steps (active and preventive in nature) to prevent the harassment occurring; To address any oral/written complaint about: unwelcome sexual advances, unsolicited acts of physical intimacy, unwelcome requests for sexual favours or other unwelcome conduct of asexual nature. Unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature includes oral or written statements of a sexual nature to a person, or in a person’s presence.

Obtain support from the Principal for implementing a comprehensive strategy:

Providing information to all staff and students about what constitutes sexual harassment and about their responsibility not to sexually harass other staff and students Providing information and training to managers, supervisors and staff conducting teaching and learning activities on meeting their responsibilities in relation to maintaining a work and study environment free from sexual harassment.

Develop a written policy which prohibits sexual harassment. The Institution shall have a Sexual Harassment Policy. The policy outlines the Institute’s key commitments and legal responsibilities and provides a definition of sexual harassment and behaviors that are not acceptable.

Regularly distribute and promote the policy at all levels of the organization; Ensure that managers and supervisors discuss and reinforce the policy at staff meetings; Provide the policy and other relevant information on sexual harassment to new staff as a standard part of induction; Periodically review the policy to ensure it is operating effectively and contains up to date information.

Display anti-sexual harassment posters on notice boards in common work areas and distribute relevant brochures; Conduct regular awareness raising sessions for all staff on sexual harassment issues.

REPORTS

2020 – 21
2021 – 22
2022 – 23