The government bodies in the State seem to be emulating private organisations in being indifferent when it comes to setting up grievance mechanisms for women as per the law. Expressing displeasure over the state of affairs was none other than the Chairperson of Telangana Women’s Commission, Tripurana Venkataratnam, here on Saturday. She said though she had written to the district administrations across the State to constitute Local Complaints’ Committees (LCCs) headed by district collectors to look into sexual harassment cases, it was yet to become a reality.
“There is an utter failure in the implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013. After I had taken over as the Chairperson, I instructed the district collectors to set up the LCCs. But only when we ask a district collector to accept some complaint, a committee is formed,” she said.
Ms. Venkataratnam was speaking at a day-long consultation on ‘Implementation of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013’, organised by the Telangana State Commission for Women and NGOs Tharuni and Terre Des Hommes. The participants, who included representatives of corporate companies and NGOs, also spoke about the fresh guidelines issued last year by Maneka Gandhi, Minister of Women and Child Development.
Low awareness level
Ms. Venkataratnam said the awareness level about the act was low among people. She expressed concern over many of the private organisations not having Internal Complaints’ Committee (ICC). The Telangana Women’s Commission would write to universities and schools to set up the committees, she said.
Sensitising committees
Apart from the need to sensitise the committees on dealing with complainants from women, the discussion also was on the need for organisations to grant leaves to woman complainants, when requested, which was mandatory as per the Act.
The participants also pointed out that though ₹50,000 fine could be levied on the companies that do not have internal committees, action was not being taken against erring employers.
The important recommendations put forward by the participants would be sent to the Government of India to be considered during the amendment of the Act.
