Anti Sexual Harressment
About the cell
- With regard to the Supreme Court judgment and guidelines issued in 1997 for the effective enforcement of the basic human right of gender equality and the guarantee against sexual harassment and abuse—particularly at workplaces—the University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued circulars since 1998 to all universities, advising them to establish a permanent cell and committee to develop guidelines to combat sexual harassment, violence against women, and ragging in universities and colleges.
- Idhaya College for Women, Pudupalayam, is committed to providing a congenial and conducive atmosphere in which students, teachers, and non-teaching staff can work together in an environment free from violence, harassment, exploitation, and intimidation. This includes all forms of gender violence, sexual harassment, and discrimination on the basis of gender. Every member is expected to be aware of the commitment to the right to freedom of expression and association. The institution strongly supports gender equality and opposes any form of gender discrimination and violence.
- The Supreme Court of India, in a landmark judgment in August, stated that every instance of sexual harassment is a violation of “Fundamental Rights” under Articles 14, 15, and 21 of the Constitution of India, and amounts to a violation of the “Right to Freedom” under Article 19(1)(g). Another Supreme Court judgment in January 1999 (Apparel Export Promotion Council vs. Chopra) stated that sexually harassing behaviour “needs to be eliminated as there is no compromise on such violations.” The Supreme Court further reiterated that sexual harassment “is a violation of the fundamental right to gender equality and the right to life and liberty.”
Roles and responsibilities
- To help women realize their rights of freedom
- To treat sexual harassment as misconduct and initiate punitive actions
- To assist the aggrieved woman in placing a complaint
- To safeguard the individual who is victimized
- To educate and train students about sexual harassment
Structure
- The cell is officially known as the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) and is mandated by Indian law.
- Its members typically include a Presiding Officer (a senior woman faculty member), other faculty members, non-teaching staff, and student representatives.
- Representation from outside the college, such as from a non-governmental organization (NGO) focused on women’s issues, may also be included.
Applicable to all members of the college
- The cell addresses issues of sexual harassment on campus, applicable to all students, staff, and faculty members.
- Complaints may be lodged by the victim or by a third party.
Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) Members
| S.No | Name | Designation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rev. Dr. Sr. Lourdu Mary | Chairperson (Principal) |
| 2 | Mrs. Mariyammal | Member (Asst. Prof. in Mathematics) |
| 3 | Mrs. Renuga Devi | Member (Asst. Prof. in Microbiology) |
| 4 | Mrs. Pachaiyammal | Block Development Officer, Pudupalayam (Social Welfare) |