Internal Committee: 'Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act,2013'

(VISHAKHA SAMITI)

INTERNAL COMMITTEE

The Internal Committee in the Kr. V. N. Naik Shikshan Prasarak Sanstha’s, Arts, Commerce & Science College according to ‘The Sexual Harassment at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013’. Along with this Act, the ICC seeks to adhere to the spirit of Vishakha guidelines preceding this legislation in order to address the issue of sexual harassment at workplace for ensuring gender equality. The ICC aims to look into the complaints of sexual harassment in the establishment and also to generate awareness about the issue. The Act has outlined the constitution of the committees, the process to be followed for making a complaint and conducting inquiry into the complaint in a time bound manner.

WHAT IS SEXUAL HARASSMENT?

An act of sexual harassment includes any one or more of the unwelcome acts or behaviour, whether directly or by implication:

1. Physical contact and advances; or
2. A demand or request for sexual favours; or
3. Making sexual coloured remarks; or
4. Showing pornography; or
5. Any unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature.

The following circumstances, among other circumstances, if it

occurs or are present in relation to or connected with any act or behaviour of sexual harassment, may also amount to sexual harassment;

1. Implied or explicit promise of preferential treatment in her employment; or
2. Implied or explicit threat of detrimental treatment in her employment; or
3. Implied or explicit threat about her present or future employment status; or
4. Interference with her work or creating and intimidating or offensive or hostile work environment for her; or
5. Humiliating treatment likely to affect her health or safety.

  FUNCTIONING OF IC

 OBJECTIVES OF THE COMMITTEE

The Internal Complaint Committee is an educational resource as well as a complaint redressal mechanism for the members of faculty, staff and students of the University. Its mandates are:

• To provide a neutral, confidential and supportive environment for members of the campus community who may have been sexually harassed
• To advice complainants of means of resolution as specified by the legislation
• To ensure fair and timely resolution of sexual harassment complaints
• To provide counselling and support services on campus
• To ensure that students, faculty and staff are provided with current and comprehensive materials on sexual harassment
• To promote awareness about sexual harassment through educational initiatives that encourages and fosters a respectful and safe campus environment

The committee seeks to inform the campus community of their right to a respectful work and learning environment. It believes that if we practice respect, exercise empathy in our interactions with others so that we do not hurt anyone through what we say or do, then we can create a campus that is free of sexual harassment.

The Committee seeks to achieve these goals through:

• Complaint Redressal: As per the act ‘The Sexual Harassment at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013’, appropriate action will be taken once the complaint is filed.
• Dissemination of Information: through production, distribution and circulation of materials, posters and handouts etc. to the college campus.
• Awareness Workshops: for faculty, non-teaching staff and students with an aim to develop nonthreatening and non-intimidating atmosphere of mutual learning.
• Counselling – Confidential counselling service is an important service as the sexual harassment cases are rarely reported and are a sensitive issue. Counselling provides a safe space to speak about the incident and how it has affected the aggrieved woman.

Who can file the Complaint to the Internal Complaint Committee?

Any student, service provider, teaching, non-teaching staff may lodge a complaint against a student, service provider, teaching, non-teaching staff.

 ABOUT INQUIRY PROCESS

The Internal Complaints Committee shall make enquiry into the complaint in accordance with the provisions of the Service Rules applicable to the respondent. For the purpose of the enquiry, if the respondent is a non-teaching employee of the college, provisions of the Maharashtra Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1979 and provisions of the Maharashtra Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1979, are applicable, and if the respondent is a teacher, provisions of the Teachers' Statutes are applicable. If the Respondent is a student, an enquiry shall be made as per provisions of Ordinance 157 as regards maintenance of discipline and good conduct by students.

Members of the Internal Committee at Savitribai Phule Pune University :

1.  Smt. Sarita Deokar                              Chairman                                       (Dept of Chemistry)
2.   Mrs. Nilima Sathe Shinde                  External Expert
3. Smt . Sonali Wagh                                 Member                                        (Dept. of Electronics)
4.   Dr. Manisha Dhiware                            Member                                       (Dept. of Physics)
5.  Mr . Anil Ahire                                      Member                                        (Dept of English)
6.  Mr  Chetan Avhad                                Member                                       (Physical Director)
7.   Mr. Tiwade Rajendra.S                       Member                                        (Non-teaching Representative)
8.  Mrs.  Smt Chayya Wagh                    Member                                         (Non-teaching Representative)
9.  Ms .Ashwini Pagar                             Member                                         (Student representative)
10.  Mr. Dilip  Chavhan                              Member                                         (Student Representative)

Resource Materials

• ICC Poster
• Internal Complaints Committee Pamphlet
• Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal)Act, 2013 Rules
• UGC guideline for Prevention,prohibition and redressal of sexual harassment of women employees and students in higher educational institutions.
• Salient Features of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace.

FILE A COMPLAINT

• Any aggrieved woman can file complaint in writing, to the ICC, within a period 3 months from the date of incident (sexual harassment at work place).
• If she is unable to make a complaint in writing, the ICC will provide all possible assistance to her for making the complaint in writing.
• If the ICC is satisfied that the circumstances were such, which prevented the woman from filing a complaint within a period of 3 months, it may extend the time limit not exceeding three months.
• The complainant needs to submit six copies of the complaint along with the supporting documents and names and addresses of the witnesses to the ICC. On receipt of the complaint, the Committee will send one of the copies to the respondent within a period of seven working days and ask the respondent to file his reply to the complaint along with his list of documents and names and addresses of witnesses, within a period not exceeding ten working days from the date of receipt of the complaint by him. Legal practitioner is not allowed to represent the case at any stage of the proceedings before the Committee.

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Telephone

+91-0253-2576692, 9922624233, 9960640328,8149369440,7498086146

• Timings

The office hours are 10:30 to 4:30. Excluding Sundays and Holidays

Contact Hours: Wednesday And Friday between 12 pm to 2 pm .