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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Pool of experts on workplace abuse -Ananya Sengupta

Pool of experts on workplace abuse -Ananya Sengupta

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published Published on Jun 18, 2015   modified Modified on Jun 18, 2015
-The Telegraph

New Delhi: The National Commission for Women has decided to form an expert panel to help institutions deal with complaints of sexual harassment at workplace after many organisations said it was difficult finding a "credible outsider" who could be part of their internal committees.

At least one employer, who had approached the NCW for advice, said it was tough to decide who was credible enough and claimed that the solution lay in "certified experts" from the women's panel.

All employers have to set up an internal complaints committee under the Supreme Court's 1997 Vishakha judgment and the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.

The committee must have a minimum of four members, including one from outside the organisation, either from an NGO or someone who is an expert on the issue.

At least half the members of the committee must be women.

In March this year, women and child development (WCD) minister Maneka Gandhi had told the Rajya Sabha that 90 per cent of government and non-government organisations didn't have internal complaints committees despite letters to industry bodies such as Ficci and Assocham to push for such panels.

Many companies blamed the non-availability of an "outsider expert" who could be part of their internal committees. "Many institutions are unable to grasp the provisions of the act. For most, the main problem is to find a credible expert to be the outsider in the complaints committee. How do we find this expert? How do we know she is credible enough? We have a rights activist on our panel, and she comes to committee meetings, but, at the end of the day, it's a hit and miss," said the owner of a technology firm in the capital that had approached the NCW for help.

"Certified experts from the NCW would know how to deal with such complaints. They would also be easily available," the owner added.

A note from the commission confirmed that the women's panel too was thinking along the same lines.

"The National Commission for Women frequently receives requests from various government departments and other organisations for providing a resource person familiar with the issue.... In view of the above the National Commission for Women proposes to prepare a panel of experts who are familiar with the subject and willing to become part of internal complaints committee(s) to help in generating awareness on prevention of sexual harassment of women at workplace," said the note that sought applications.

A copy of the note is with The Telegraph.

Sources said the panel members could be lawyers, activists, educationists, psychologists and others familiar with women's issues.

The 2013 act, enacted by the WCD ministry, covers all women, irrespective of their age or employment status, to protect them against sexual harassment at their place of work, whether in the public or private sector, organised or unorganised.

The year after the law was brought in saw a nearly 35 per cent increase in the number of complaints to the women's commission. While the complaints numbered 167 in 2012, they jumped to 249 in 2013 and 336 in 2014.

"It is extremely crucial for the implementation of the act to have an expert outsider as these internal committees are usually packed with pro-administration people. The idea of creating a pool of experts will go a long way in giving a sense of credibility to the committees for victims," said Kavita Krishnan, secretary of the rights body All India Progressive Women's Association.

NCW chairperson Lalitha Kumaramangalam refused comment.

The Telegraph, 18 June, 2015, http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150618/jsp/nation/story_26343.jsp#.VYJ5afkj55w


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