- How do we convince our parents if we need to complain about sexual harassment when they are reluctant to support us?
- Will my grades suffer if I complain against my teacher in college?
High school and undergraduate students at a session expressed their concerns regarding sexual harassment and discussed how it is difficult to overcome social barriers to lodge a complaint.
The session was attended by 90 students of age 16 to 21 from several schools and colleges, said the organisers.
“There is a fear amongst girls and their families that ‘what if others come to know about it?’. Unless girls are convinced that they need to raise their voice against sexual harassment they will not be able to convince their parents or families. They have to be convinced that it is an offense and they need to approach the authorities and file a complaint with them. Molesting my dignity is unacceptable,” said Debjani Ghosh, a lawyer practicing at the Calcutta High Court.
Ghosh addressed the students on Prevention of Sexual Harassment (Posh) organised by the Women’s Empowerment Committee of Rotary Club of Calcutta at Rotary Sadan last week.
“Every organisation must have an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) and girls have to take a step and lodge a complaint. Complete confidentiality is maintained and the complainant’s identity is not disclosed,” said Ghosh.
Parents or organisations often try to brush instances of sexual harassment under the carpet.
“There is a fear of the girl being threatened on the road or over the phone but that fear is there for any complaint and it should not deter them,” said Ghosh.
Often girls are not aware of their rights and hence it is important that they be made aware, said Shampa Ghose, chairperson of the Women’s Empowerment Committee of the club.
Girls should be made aware of their rights and the forums available to them early on so it teaches them not to accept any injustice or anything that is an attack on their dignity, said Ghosh. Awareness is still low and not enough is done to educate them, she said. But there have to be sessions for adults, too.
The societal barriers of shame and fear are often so overpowering that it makes it difficult for girls to overcome it, said the organisers.
“Parents and teachers have to be made aware. Complaints are coming but it is still low,” said Ghosh.
Boys and men also need to be made aware of the consequences of sexual harassment, she said.
“There are many instances that get buried because girls do not know how to react and whom to approach. They need to know what constitutes sexual harassment,” said Sarvani Gooptu, member of the women’s empowerment committee of the club.
Judge nod for DA rally with riders
Justice Rajasekhar Mantha of Calcutta High Court on Thursday asked the city police to allow state government employees demanding a hike in dearness allowance to march through Harish Mukherjee Road on May 6.
The police had earlier objected to the march citing the “sensitivity” of the route.
Trinamul national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee’s house is on Harish Mukherjee Road.
Justice Mantha, however, specified the rally route. He said the rally would start from in front of Bhowanipore fire station, proceed through Harish Mukherjee Road and then turn right towards SP Mukherjee Road. The rally will end at Jatin Das Park.
The judge said the rallyists would have to “maintain peace” and could not make any comment about any individual.
The rally will be allowed between 1pm and 4pm.