Bahirji Smarak Mahavidyalaya

Women Anti Sexual Harassment Cell

The Internal Committee for Women Anti Sexual Harassment in Bahirji Smarak Mahavidyalaya, Basmathnagar constituted according to ‘The Sexual Harassment at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013’. Along with this Act, the ICC seeks to adhere to the spirit of Vishakha guidelines preceding this legislation in order to address the issue of sexual harassment at workplace for ensuring gender equality. The ICC aims to look into the complaints of sexual harassment in the establishment and also to generate awareness about the issue. The Act has outlined the constitution of the committees, the process to be followed for making a complaint and conducting inquiry into the complaint in a time bound manner.

What is Sexual Harassment?

An act of sexual harassment includes any one or more of the unwelcome acts or behaviour, whether directly or by implication:

• Physical contact and advances; or
• A demand or request for sexual favors; or
• Making sexual colored remarks; or
• Showing pornography; or
• Any unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature.

The following circumstances, among other circumstances, if it occur or are present in relation to or connected with any act or behavior of sexual harassment, may also amount to sexual harassment;

• Implied or explicit promise of preferential treatment in her employment; or
• Implied or explicit threat of detrimental treatment in her employment; or
• Implied or explicit threat about her present or future employment status; or
• Interference with her work or creating and intimidating or offensive or hostile work environment for her; or
• Humiliating treatment likely to affect her health or safety.

Functioning of Internal Committee for Women Anti Sexual Harassment

Objectives of the Committee-

• To provide a neutral, confidential and supportive environment for members of the campus community who may have been sexually harassed
• To advice complainants of means of resolution as specified by the legislation
• To ensure fair and timely resolution of sexual harassment complaints
• To provide counseling and support services on campus
• To ensure that students, faculty and staff are provided with current and comprehensive materials on sexual harassment
• To promote awareness about sexual harassment through educational initiatives that encourages and fosters a respectful and safe campus environment

The committee 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.

The Committee seeks to achieve these goals through:

• Complaint Redressal: As per the act ‘The Sexual Harassment at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013’, appropriate action will be taken once the complaint is filed.
• Dissemination of Information: through production, distribution and circulation of materials, posters and handouts etc. to SPPU campus community.
• Awareness Workshops: for faculty, non-teaching staff and students with an aim to develop nonthreatening and non-intimidating atmosphere of mutual learning.
• Counselling – Confidential counselling service is an important service as the sexual harassment cases are rarely reported and are a sensitive issue. Counselling provides a safe space to speak about the incident and how it has affected the aggrieved woman.

Who can file the Complaint to the Internal Complaint Committee?

Any student, service provider, teaching, non-teaching staff may lodge a complaint against a student, service provider, teaching, non-teaching staff.

About Inquiry process:

The Internal Complaints Committee shall make enquiry into the complaint in accordance with the provisions of the Service Rules applicable to the respondent. For the purpose of the enquiry, if the respondent is a non-teaching employee of the university, provisions of the Maharashtra Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1979 and provisions of the Maharashtra Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1979, are applicable, and if the respondent is a teacher, provisions of the Teachers' Statutes are applicable. If the Respondent is a student, an enquiry shall be made as per provisions of Ordinance 157 as regards maintenance of discipline and good conduct by students.

Members of the Internal Committee of Women Anti Sexual Harassment Cell:

Procedure for Approaching Cell

The Cell deals with issues relating to sexual harassment in the college campus. It is applicable to all students, staff and faculty. A complaint of discrimination or sexual harassment may be lodged by the victim or a third party. A written complaint may be addressed to the Convenor of the Committee. If the complaint is made to the Principal, or any of the Committee members, they may forward it to the Convenor of the Committee Against Sexual Harassment.

What to do if you feel you are being sexually harassed?

• Know your rights – Sexual harassment is illegal.
• Speak up – try telling the person to stop. State clearly and firmly that you want a particular behavior to cease.
• Get information and support – If you feel you cannot speak up, ask your friends to help you and bring it to the notice of the College authorities without further loss of time.
• Keep records that might be useful for pursuing the case.

What not to do

• Do not blame yourself. Sexual harassment is not something one brings on oneself. It is not a consequence of certain ways of dressing or acting. It is a violation of an individual’s right to work and live with dignity.
• Do not ignore it. Ignoring sexual harassment does not make it go away. The harasser may misinterpret a lack of response as approval of the behavior.
• Do not delay. Delay in action increases the probability that unwanted behavior will continue or escalate.
• Do not hesitate to ask for help. Speaking up may also prevent others from being harmed.

Steps you can take:

• Inform Class Teacher, HoD or Members of Women Cell or Anti Sexual Harassment Cell.
• Approach the Grievance Redressal Cell for Women and file a written complaint.