Karnataka department of higher education to further strengthen protection to women students and employees

Updated on: Monday, December 31, 2012

Delhi gang rape incident that has resulted in death of Nirbhaya, the 23-year-old victim in a Singapore hospital, has resulted in a positive spinoff for women students and employees in higher education institutions in Karnataka. The department of higher education is mulling to further strengthen measures aimed at giving protection to women students and employees and these measures will be discussed at a meeting of vice-chancellors soon.

Measures mooted include starting separate cell in each institution that will deal exclusively with complaints (of sexual harassment) of students and employees, if not already done. These cells will be headed by a senior woman faculty and will include the principal, a girl student representative and a woman member from the college development committee. The cell will take all necessary steps to protect the identity of the whistleblower in this case.

Unveiling this and other measures on Saturday, CT Ravi, Minister for Higher Education said the Delhi gang rape has collectively stirred the conscience of the nation. For those not willing to come in person before the cell mooted, students and employees must be given the option of dropping their complaint in a drop box. "The cell should look into these complaints as well on a weekly basis and involve the police straightaway if the charges are serious," he said.

Educational institutions must also arrange for counselling of students/employees if they are in need for the same following instances of harassment - sexual or otherwise. The institutions must probe if mode of transport used by students and employees to and from their study/work place is safe and bring any problems to notice of authorities concerned. Security on college campuses and girls hostel must be top priority for managements of institutions, he said.

These measures will be discussed at a meeting of VCs and senior officials of the department either on December 31 or January 5, 2013, Ravi said. Another step mooted is to make value and moral education part of the curriculum. "There is a dire need to change mindset of boys on how they 'see' women and also inform women about dressing aptly," he said adding the government will support any move for stricter legislations on crimes against women.

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