March 20,2018:
On Monday, Ministry of Human Resource Development informed Lok Sabha, that there has been 50% increase in reported cases on sexual harassment from various higher education institutions in the 2016-17 academic year from that of 2015-16.
Union Minister of State for HRD, Satya Pal Singh, in a written reply, stated that Universities and Colleges across country reported a 50% increase in sexual harassment cases in 2017 compared to previous year. Singh said that 149 cases of sexual harassment were reported from universities and 39 cases from colleges and other institutions in 2017.
In 2016, 94 such cases were reported from universities and 18 from colleges and institutions.
Ironically, the data was shared on a day when hundreds of the JNU students marched to Vasant Kunj Police Station in south Delhi, demanding arrest and suspension of a professor against whom nine complaints have been lodged within a week.
Minister further stated that,"In addition to this, 901 cases of ragging were registered in 2017 compared to 515 in 2016".
Quoting UGC, Minister further added that Panel had set up a task force under Chairmanship of Professor Meenakshi Gopinath, Ex-member of UGC, on 8 January, 2013 to review the existing arrangements for the safety and security of girls and women on campuses of higher educational institutions.
Task Force’s Report was adopted by Commission. UGC had notified specific rules to tackle sexual harassment of students and staff that required institutions to take action on complaints of all sexes. The regulation has notified a provision for third-party complaints that allows a victim’s friends, colleagues or any other person to file a complaint on their behalf.
Commission has asked institutions whether workshops or awareness programmes against sexual harassment were conducted during the year.
The UGC had also notified University Grants Commission (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of Sexual Harassment of Women Employees and Students in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2015.
The complaint needs to be filed within three months of the offence and the university or college would have to face action, including fund cuts if they failed to follow regulations,” a senior UGC official said, explaining the stringent rules against the offence.
UGC Guidelines state that the internal committee of the college or university is liable to complete its probe within 90 days and the authorities have to take action within 30 days. If found guilty, the university or college can rusticate a student while an employee or teacher has to face action according to the service rule.
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