In the wake of complaints of sexual harassment slapped by a women against her employer, who is incidentally a doctor in Ranchi on Tuesday, the question of safety of women at workplaces has put the focus back on various guidelines framed for women safety.
In the backdrop of the case, it is one tough job for the State Government to ensure that harassment at workplace doesn’t happen at private places as most of them are casually under surveillance for compliance with the Vishakha guidelines framed by a 1997 Supreme Court ruling to prevent sexual harassment of women at workplace.
However, as the provisions that inspired the Sexual Harassment at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 the implementation of the provisions of Vishakha guidelines are wrapped in confusion and mystery.
Various government departments and aided bodies are ensuring protection of women in rather uncoordinated manner. The department of labour is bereft of any progress in commercial establishments, the Directorate of Social Welfare, Women and Child Development is aloof and the Jharkhand State Commission for Women is helpless even in confirming whether private places in Jharkhand are safe for women.
Jharkhand failed to take suo-motu steps like other states where the department of labour tightened noose around private firms to make them comply with the guidelines.
“We are not aware of any survey conducted on our behalf to ascertain whether commercial establishments have complied with the guidelines neither I remember any directions from the Ministey of labour to do so,” said labour Commissioner, Praveen Toppo.
The guidelines mandates, setting up an internal complaints committee (equal ratio of male and female members with one preceding female head), organising timely workshops for sensitisation and display conspicuously at the workplace, the penal consequences of indulging in such acts; involving an NGO or a person who is aware on these issues and receiving written complaints and keep local complaints committee in loop.
Nonetheless, details regarding compliance especially at private entities that employ women could only be speculated as various stakeholders of women safety confirm compliance by anticipating that orders would have been followed. The Internal Complaints Committee requires people who are equipped to deal with cases of harassment with sensitivity and rationale.
“I had written to former Chief Secretary, RS Sharma to ensure that Vishakha guidelines are implemented at government offices. We did receive confirmation regarding compliance. Even some colleges have set up Internal Complaints Committee but we are not in a position to confirm whether this is the case at all private entities. We are short of officials and overburdened with work to ensure that,” said Chairperson of JSCW, Mahua Maji.
A former official at the department of Social Welfare, Women and Child Development confided that a lot of progress has been made at government departments however privately owned firms are off the hook and no efforts has been made by the department to keep those establishments under scanner.
“There has not been any effort directed at private enterprises. The department has no staff to enforce compliance at such places. However, the department had decided to appointment of one official at government offices,” said the official on the condition of anonymity.