The December 16, 2012 gang-rape of a medical intern in a running bus in Delhi woke up the entire nation with a severe jolt. The Nirbhaya episode forced the UGC to set up a 10-member Task Force with the sole aim of initiating various measures to provide safety and security to students in educational institutions across the country. The Task Force came out with “Saksham” report with concrete recommendations. The UGC has firmly told the universities, colleges, campuses and other educational institutes that sexual harassment of students, teachers and staffers would not be tolerated any more.
Nagpur News: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has taken decisive step for safety and security of girl students and woman teachers in colleges, campuses and educational institutions across the country in accordance with the “Saksham,” a report of the Task Force set up by UGC to “Review the measures for ensuring safety and security of women in campuses and programmes for gender sensitization.”
The UGC has issued directives to all educational institutions to entrust the senior teachers with responsibilities of implementing the report according to its guidelines. Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU) has started working on the “Saksham” report.
NEED OF THE HOUR:
The December 16, 2012 gang-rape of a medical intern in a running bus in Delhi woke up the entire nation with a severe jolt. The Nirbhaya episode forced the UGC to set up a 10-member Task Force with the sole aim of initiating various measures to provide safety and security to students in educational institutions across the country. The UGC has firmly told the universities, colleges, campuses and other educational institutes that sexual harassment of students, teachers and staffers would not be tolerated any more.
“SAKSHAM” REPORT:
Human Resource Development Minister Dr. M. M. Pallam Raju recently released the UGC “Saksham” in New Delhi. The minister said that it is an imperative need to create safe and secure atmosphere in campuses. In order to achieve this, there is a need to change the mindset of the people and to apply it in word and follow it in deed. Gender sensitization discussions should be made an integral part of public discourse in campuses in order to build awareness on the same.
According to the report, only 4 per cent educational institutions or campuses had a helpline number that women students and faculty could call, 8.3 per cent had a complaint box, around 10 per cent had installed CCTV cameras, 10.9 percent campuses had patrolling guards who keep watch on girls’ hostels and women’s departments, 18.5 percent had female security guards, 26.6 percent had vigilance committees and other measures.
THE SITUATION:
According to experts, the Vigilance Committees set up by educational institutions only take care of maintaining image of the institution and saving faculty members. Nobody supports the complainant women and thus the guilty goes scot free. Moreover, the victim is pressured and forced by Peer Group and sometimes by parents of the complainant.
At present, the campuses and educational institutes lack the following:
1) Campus patrolling guards.
2) Vigilance Committees.
3) Women security guards.
4) CCTV cameras.
The RTMNU Vice Chancellor Dr Vilas Sapkal said, “The action plan on UGC’s “Saksham” report has already been implemented in the University and its campus and colleges. I myself is very sensitive towards safety and security of students and have given responsibilities to senior teachers on priority to ensure safety and security of girl students, teachers and other woman employees as per the “Saksham” report guidelines.”
