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Sexual harassment at college often happens on the pretext of ragging. Read on to find out how you can combat it.
Education opens up our minds and broadens our thinking. Sadly, this does not always happen at the places of education.
Educational institutes are considered as temples of knowledge in our nation, but these places turn out to be a nightmare for some. Sexual harassment and ragging are rampant at most colleges and universities. You might think that it has never happened to you so why would it happen to others or why should I bother? But think again. You’d be surprised at the facts!
According to a survey conducted by Ara Johannes, a shocking 61.7% women reported that they had experienced some form of sexual harassment in or coming to college. Another funded study by UGC revealed that 40 per cent students in colleges across India faced some kind of ragging while only 8.6 per cent out of these actually reported the incidents.
What, then, is the solution to this? How do we fight against such atrocities? To make life at educational institutes smooth and carefree, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has drafted a list of norms to be followed by each educational institute. It has even issued circulars to all the universities to establish a permanent cell to combat sexual harassment, violence against women and ragging at the universities and colleges. The UGC Handbook on Sexual Harassment of Women in Workplace is available at the UGC website. The handbook deals with the duties and responsibilities of employers, institutions and organisations with regard to safety of women at their workplace.
To make things unambiguous, it has also framed an exhaustive definition of campus, which includes outdoor premises and official visits. Other things include key features, punishments for such an act and the repercussions of non compliance.
Here are some highlights from these guidelines:
Since most of the cases of sexual harassment in college are against women students and teachers, it is imperative that they are given the weapon to deal with such degrading behaviour.
We also come across cases of ragging and the resultant suicides or deaths happening because of such harassment. In order to curb both these and other kinds of harassment, it is necessary that, first, we as citizens, become vigilant about such laws and take the necessary action following such incidents.
The compelling factor for looking into this matter was this article in the TOI which revealed that most students aren’t aware of a cell against sexual harassment at college existing in their colleges and universities. Our purpose for this article is only one – to build awareness. Only when the students have the knowledge of such a cell, will they feel safe and look forward to attending college rather than being scared of it.
Published here earlier.
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20 A very short person with a very large imagination. If you say anything remotely racist or sexist, I'll SCREAM at your torso. read more...
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People say that women are the greatest enemies of women. I vehemently disagree. It is the patriarchal mindset that makes women believe in the wrong ideology.
The entire world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024. It should be a joyful day, but unfortunately, not all women are entitled to this privilege, as violence against women is at its peak. The experience of oppression pushes many women to choose freedom. As far as patriotism is concerned, feminism is not a cup of tea in this society.
What happens when a woman decides to stand up for herself? Does this world easily accept the decisions of women in this society? What inspires them to be free of the clutches of the oppression that women have faced for ages? Most of the time, women do not get the chance to decide for themselves. Their lives are always at the mercy of someone, which can be their parents, siblings, husband, or children.
In some cases, women do not feel the need to make any decisions. They are taught to obey the patriarchal system, which makes them believe that they are right. In my family, I was never taught to make decisions on my own. It was always my parents who bought dresses and all that I needed.
14 years after her last feature film Dhobi Ghat, storyteller extraordinaire comes up with her new film, Laapataa Ladies, a must watch.
*Some spoilers alert*
Every religion around the world dictates terms to women. The onus is always on women to be ‘modest’ and cover their faces and bodies so men can’t be “tempted”, rather than on men to keep their eyes where they belong and behave like civilized beings. So much so that even rape has been excused on the grounds of women eating chowmein or ‘men will be men’. I think the best Hindi movie retort to this unwanted advice on ‘akeli ladki khuli tijori ki tarah hoti hai’ (an alone woman is like an open jewellery box) came from Geet in Jab We Met – Kya aap gyan dene ke paise lete hain kyonki chillar nahin hain mere paas.
The premise of Laapataa Ladies is beautifully simple – two brides clad in the ghunghat that covers their identity get mixed up on a train. Within this Russian Doll, you get a comedy of errors, a story of getting lost, a commentary on patriarchy’s attitude towards women, a mystery, and a tale of finding oneself, all in one. Done with a mostly light touch that has you laughing and nodding along.
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