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ShareIn a first-of-its-kind survey conducted by the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (MSHRC), the sexual harassment redressal forum, mandated by the Supreme Court, was found to be more the exception than the rule in government offices.
The MSHRC launched the project, aimed at examining the functioning of redressal cells in the state, in mid-September in Mumbai, Aurangabad, Nanded, Latur, Parbhani, Nagpur, and Yavatmal.
While the initial survey in Nanded concluded recently, it will begin in Mumbai and Yavatmal next month. The project covers district offices, government schools, police stations, courts and tehsil offices.
The preliminary survey highlighted the lack of information of the employees as well as the members of the complaints redressal fora regarding their functioning. "Many members were unaware of the procedure of holding an investigation in a sexual harassment case," said Jaishri Patil, head of the MSHRC project. "This makes the fora almost defunct. And when members are transferred to other offices, new members are not appointed."
The redressal cells were established following a government resolution of 2001. "So far, they existed only on paper, which is evident from the number of applications received through these cells," Patil said.
Based on the Supreme Court judgment in the Vishakha case in 1997, the government drew up guidelines to frame rules to create a workplace comfortable and safe for women who otherwise face harassment in the form of sexual advances.
