‘Safety of women in workplace not just a matter of discussion anymore’

Advocate emphasizes importance of Internal Complaints Committee in workplaces to prevent sexual harassment of women effectively.

Though the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) has evident flaws in its procedure, constitution of the committee in workplaces is the only way out to prevent sexual harassment of women, according to S. Selva Gomathi, advocate and joint director, Society for Community Organisation (SOCO) Trust.

Speaking at the ‘One day consultation on role of state for ensuring right to work with dignity of female workers at workplace,’ organised by SOCO Trust and Justice Shivraj V. Patil Foundation here on Saturday, she said, “Having one such committee would instil fear in men who think of harassing women at the workplace.” 

After the Kolkata rape and murder case and other such repeated incidence of violence against women, the idea of ‘saving’ women from night shifts had been suggested. But “how could someone even think of such an idea that would exacerbate the already existing discrimination against women in promotion and wages, among others,” she added.  

“The idea should be to create a safer environment for women rather than trying to protect them by confining them inside a ‘safe chamber’, by depriving them of opportunities,” she noted.  

“It is time the government implements the recommendations of Verma committee report to prevent such future events,” Ms. Gomathi said. 

A government college professor and also a member of ICC noting the practice of victim blaming by even the members of the committee, said forming a committee was just the baby step, but roping in the right members was the important step in fulfilling the purpose of such a committee.  

“When a committee member is a person with a conservative mindset, the victim is subjected to experience the same pain several times in the due process of the grievance redressal,” she noted.