The Kalakshetra case has highlighted the need to look at the mechanisms in place to tackle campus sexual harassment.
What’s it about? Per the University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations from 2015, all educational institutions should have an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) to deal with sexual harassment cases. Some colleges have disciplinary committees or gender cells that double as ICCs.
- In some cases of students in city colleges, the ICC has let them down. Repeated complaints didn’t result in disciplinary action. Some women’s colleges claim they don’t need ICCs since they don’t have male students, which is a misconception.
- In normal circumstances, an inquiry should be completed by the ICC within 90 days of the complaint. It should be submitted with recommendations to the executive authority of the institution. They should then act on it within 30 days.
Strengthening ICCs: V Sakthi Rekha, from the ICC at Madras School of Social Work, said students and faculty should be made aware of the importance of ICC during the academic year. Staff and students can be a part of the ICC and a gender cell to help them address gaps in the redress system.