The 90-day paid leave granted to a victim of sexual harassment at workplace comes as a major relief to many women employees in the government.
Though this provision has been framed under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013, it came into force recently as the Department of Personnel and Training incorporated it in the Central Civil Services (leave) Rules, 1972.
Women activists term the paid leave as a welcome move aimed at providing solace to victims to a certain extent and help them recoup before they restart their professional life.
“However, the absence of the victim should not be misused to dilute the case or protect the offender. Though the 90-day leave helps a victim to stay away from the workplace for a while and overcome the trauma, enough care should be taken to ensure that the accused does not get away with the offence,” points out M. Kameswari from the Working Women Coordination Committee of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions.
Working women feel that the key objective of the significant move should be to prevent atrocities against them and provide a safe environment at workplace. “In most cases, the molester is hardly getting punished and the victim is often treated to a hostile work environment. This is attributed to varied reasons including influence of political parties and abuse of power,” laments R.N. Madhavi, city secretary of All India Democratic Women’s Association.
Terming the 12-week leave as much-needed relief, psychologists say that this period will be instrumental in addressing the trauma that one has gone through.
“Staying away from office will help the victim to erase emotional stress to a substantial extent. But it gravely depends on one’s emotional and physical wellbeing and severity of the abuse experienced,” says S. Radha Rani, Superintendent of the Government Hospital for Mental Care.
