GENDER SENSITIZATION AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT PREVENTION CELL

The Cell for Gender Sensitization and Prevention against Sexual Harassment at Workplace at Sri K V College of Pharmacy, M G Road, Chikkaballapura, had its inception in 2015. The Cell was formed in accordance with the guidelines on sexual harassment prevention in the workplace, issued by the Honorable Supreme Court of India in 1997 and in accordance with the VISHAKHA guidelines of Supreme Court and endorsed in SAKSHAM report of the University Grants Commission.

The cell aims to sensitize and create awareness about gender justice among the academic and non-academic community in this educational institution. The cell has organized seminars, and interactive sessions with eminent persons and activists and aims to conduct many such seminars/workshops for the benefit of all students of our institution. The members of the said cell had also propagated their ideas in such events.

The Cell is responsible for looking into any complaints filed by students and staff about sexual harassment if any happening inside the college premises.

According to the Honorable Supreme Court of India definition of sexual harassment is any unwelcome sexually determined behavior, such as:

• Physical contact and advances.
• Demand or request for sexual favors.
• Sexually Colored remarks.
• Any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of a sexual nature.
• Any other qualification approved by the Pharmacy Council of India as equivalent to any of the above examinations.

Objectives

• To resolve the issues pertaining to sexual harassment.
• To provide a platform for listening to complaints and redressal of grievances.
• To foster healthy relationship with opposite gender.
• To equip students, faculty and staff with the knowledge of their legal rights andredressal of their grievances.
• To facilitate speedy delivery of justice, through organizing meetings at regular intervals.

Activities

• Conducting gender awareness programmes.
• Organising women empowerment programmes.
• Programmes in the nearby community to sensitize gender equality.
• Observing International Women’s Day.
• Creating Awareness against Gender Biasness, Domestic Violence.
• Prevention and redressal of sexual harassment.

Members of the Cell

• Mrs. T K Pavithra, Convenor.
• Mrs N . Keerthi, Joint Convenor.
• Ms Priyanka A Member.

Programmes conducted by the Gender Cell

• Observation of International Women’s Day.
• Engaging Students to prepare charts and posters on Gender Sensitization, Women Empowerment and prevention of domestic violence.
• Displayed Charts, books and posters time to time.
• Formation of the Internal Complaints Committee.

INTERNAL COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE

Sri K V College of Pharmacy, M G Road, Chikkaballapura advocates the empowerment of women and has zero tolerance for sexual harassment. This institution is committed to create a safe environment for women students and employees – a gender-just environment free of violence, harassment, exploitation, intimidation and stress through creation of awareness on the issue of sexual harassment by conducting workshops and lectures by activists and academicians.

In pursuance of UGC (Prevention, prohibition and redressal of sexual harassment of women employees and students in higher educational institutions) Regulations, 2015 with Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) is constituted as under to deal with the complaints relating to Sexual harassment at work place.

The ICC of Sri K V College of Pharmacy, M G Road, Chikkaballapura comprises of the following members:.

Presiding Officer:

• 1. Mrs. T K Pavithra.
• Associate Professor , Sri K V College of Pharmacy.
• 2. Mrs. Keerthi N .
• Lecturer, Sri K V College of Pharmacy.

Representative of Non-Teaching Staff:

• 1 Ms. Lavanya L.

Students’ Representative

• 1. Kumari.DEEPIKA ,
• 2. Kumari KEERTHANA B S,
• 3. Mr. KIRAN.

Objectives:

• ICC aims to fulfil the directives of the Honourable Supreme Court of India, and concerns expressed by the University Grants Commission (UGC) about ensuring safe environment for women students and employees in educational institutions.

• ICC tries to promote an environment free of sexual harassment and other acts of gender based discrimination at the University that ensures gender equality and equal opportunities.

• ICC aims to prevent sexual harassment and to promote the general well‐ being of female students, teaching and non‐ teaching women staff of the Institution.

• Where sexual harassment occurs as a result of an act or omission by any third party or outsider, ICC shall take all steps necessary and reasonable to assist the affected person in terms of support and preventive action

• ICC shall comply with the procedure prescribed in the aforementioned UGC Regulations 2015 and the Sexual Harassment Act for inquiring into the complaint in a time bound manner.

• If ICC concludes that the allegations made were false, malicious or the complaint was made knowing it to be untrue or forged or misleading information has been provided during the inquiry, the complainant shall be liable to be punished as per the relevant provision of the aforementioned UGC Regulations 2015.

Who can approach ICC for help?

Any female employee (faculty, student or staff) of Sri K V College of Pharmacy Definition of Sexual Harassment:

"Sexual harassment" includes any unwelcome sexually inclined behaviour, whether directly or indirectly, such as:

• • Physical contact and advances
• • Demand or request for sexual favours
• • Sexually coloured remarks
• • Showing any pornography, or
• • Any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature

What are the possible actions that can be taken against the respondent?

• • Warning
• • Written apology
• • Bond of good behaviour
• • Adverse remark in the Confidential Report
• • Stopping of increments/promotion
• • Suspension
• • Dismissal
• • Any other relevant actions

If harassment occurs what should be done?

When an incident of sexual harassment occurs, the victim or third-party may submit a written complaint in person at the Internal Complaints Committee of this College. The complaint will be kept CONFIDENTIAL.

Inquiry process:

• 1. The inquiry shall be completed within a period of ninety days from the date of the complaint.
• 2. On completion of the inquiry, the ICC shall provide a report of its findings to the Executive Authority of the Higher Education Institution within a period of ten days from the date of completion of the inquiry and such report be made available to the concerned parties.
• 3. If the allegations against the respondent have been proved, it shall recommend punitive actions to be taken against the respondent to the Executive Authority of the HEI.
• 4. Executive Authority of the HEI shall act upon the recommendation within thirty days of receiving it unless an appeal against the findings have been filed within that time by either parties.

Additional Information:

For any additional information on UGC (Prevention, prohibition and redressal of sexual harassment of women employees and students in higher educational institutions) Regulations, 2015 refer to

• • Handbook On Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 for Employers / Institutions / Organisations/ Internal Complaints Committee / Local Complaints Committee; Government of India, Ministry of Women and Child Development, November 2015 (Available online)
• • https://www.ugc.ac.in/pdfnews/7203627_UGC_regulations-harassment.pdf

CONSTITUTION AND OBJECTIVES OF THE ANTI-DISCRIMINATION CELL

1. Mrs. Pavithra T.K., Associate professors Department of Pharmaceutics, Sri K.V.College of Pharmacy-convener (Ph.No.789230124a E-mail id: pavithra_tk@yahoo.com)

2. Dr.Pradeep Kumar L, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Sri K.V.College of Pharmacy -member (Ph.no.9741972098, E-mail id: pradeepkmr32@gmail.com)

3. Mrs. N.Keerthi, Assistant professor, Department of Pharmacology, Sri K.V.College of Pharmacy-member (Ph.no.9738118222, Email. Id:srikvep@gmail.com)

4. Mr. Jayaram G.S., Lecturer, Sri K.V.College of Pharmacy-member Ph.no.9845095403, E-mail.id:jayarcmgsrinlvas@gmail.com)

Objectives of the Cell :

1. This cell will look after the related matters (If any) of depriving a student/staff or group of student on the basis of cast, creed, language, ethnicity, gender, different ability.

2. This cell always try to uphold the dignity of the institution by addressing the concerns (if any) brought into the notice related to equality in offering or receiving education inside the campus.

3. This cell ensures conductive environment academic growth of the people belonging to the university.

4. This cell protects the right of individual without any prejudice to their appearance or lifestyle In the process of teaming inside I. e campus,

5. The cell shall eliminate discrimination against or harassment of any individual in all forms by prohibiting or by providing preventive and protective measures to facilitate its and punishments for those who indulge In any form of discrimination or harassment.