Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 13: Chairperson of National Commission for Women (NCW) Rekha Sharma today said that the internal committees constituted in institutions and organizations to prevent sexual harassment of women must do their job efficiently and seriously to create a safe and secure workplace environment for women.
Addressing as chief guest chairpersons of Internal Committees (ICs) of KU as well as various degree colleges during an interaction session, Sharma said the internal committees constituted under The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act of 2013 should take their responsibilities seriously and do their job without any fear.
“There will be instances when you will face pressures in the way of your functioning, especially when the accused are holding some position of authority in institutions, but that’s where you have to rise to the occasion and do what you are supposed to do under the provision of the legislation,” she said.
“Gender sensitization of students and faculty is important and has to be a continuous process, alongside the fact that organizations and institutions must have a robust gender policy in vogue to deal with matters of gender discrimination which don’t fall under the 2013 legislation against sexual harassment,” she said.
KU Vice-Chancellor Prof Talat Ahmad, who presided over the interaction session, said a strong message must go out that women are a very important part of the society and need to be respected everywhere, including at their workplaces, to enable them to work without any fear or sense of insecurity.
Chairperson of KU’s Internal Committee Prof Neelofar Khan said it is the Varsity’s continued endeavor to go for capacity-building and sensitization of Internal Committees to boost their functioning.
KU Registrar Dr Nisar Ahmad Mir and Dean School of Law Prof Mohammad Ayoub also spoke on the occasion.
The interaction session, among others, was attended by Dean College Development Council Prof G M Sangmi, Dean Behavioural Sciences Prof Showket A Shah, Coordinator Centre for Women’s Studies Prof Tabassum Firdous, and Neha Mahajan, Counsellor NCW.
Dr Saima Farhad conducted proceedings of the interaction session and also presented vote of thanks.
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