*Date: 8th February 2008
*
*PATAN Rape case exposes the situation of women and marginalised groups in
Educational Institutions of Gujarat
A demonstration for justice to the victim and demand for setting up of
committees on sexual harassment in All work places and Educational
Institutions in Gujarat
*
*On Feb 8th 2008 Sahiyar (Stree Sanghthan) along with teachers, students and
concerned citizens of Baroda organised a public demonstration on the recent
gang rape of a Dalit girl at Patan PTC college, demanding justice for the
victim and demanding setting up of a committees on Sexual Harassment in each
work-place and every educational institutions, i.e. Schools, Collages,
Universities, Ashram Shalas, Hostels etc. and particularly in all the
faculties, institutions, projects, hostels run under the M. S. University of
Baroda.
Activist of Sahiyar (Stree Sanghthan), AIDSO, Mahila Sanskrutik Sanghthan,
Joti Karmachari Mandal, and students and teachers of The M. S. University
and some other collages participated in the demonstration.
A signature campaign was carried out on the campus since last three days for
the demand to set up the committee according to the Supreme Court judgement
dated 13th August 1997 in the WRIT PETITION (CRIMINAL) NOS. 666-70 OF 1992,
VISHAKA & ORS. Vs. STATE OF RAJASTHAN & ORS. Up till now over 800 signatures
were collected from the students and teachers. During the signature campaign
there was clear anger noticed among the students regarding the issue and a
large number of the students felt that there should be a committee on sexual
harassment in the MSU. The signature campaign will continue on campus and in
the various areas of the city.
Some exerts from the leaflet.
*The shocking and intolerable incidence of gang rape on a Dalit Student in
P.T.C. Collage of Patan raises several questions regarding the situation of
women and other marginalised groups in the educational institutions in
Gujarat. The sate of affairs in the mushrooming self financed collages of
Gujarat is also a major concern. The extreme situation faced by the girl in
this case could have been avoided if there was a mechanism to prevent and
handle the cases of sexual violence on the campus.
The 1997 Supreme Court judgement in the case of Vishakha Vs. State of
Rajasthan that all the work places should have a committee to prevent and
handle cases of sexual violence. The judgement also provides a guideline for
such a committee.
The University Grant Commission had also sent a direction to all the
universities. Several universities, Delhi University, Bombay University,
Hydrabad University, J.N.U. etc. have such committees against sexual
harassment on the campus. In the Maharaja Sayajirao university of Baroda,
demand for such a committee was put forward by 'University Forum for Women'
when Dr. Padma Ramchandran was the vice chancellor. All the preliminary work
and guideline for such committee was prepared by a group of academicians.
But the subsequent Vice Chancellors did not bother to have a committee
according to the Supreme Court and UGC guidelines. As and when a case of
sexual harassment comes up the authorities deal with it without any proper
mechanism, which is contrary to the guidelines.
It is high time that all the teachers, students and non teaching staff come
to gather and demand for a committee according to the Supreme Court
guidelines.
*We demand,
1. A thorough inquiry in the case of repeated gang rape and sexual
exploitation of girls in the P.T.C. Collage of Patan and immediate and stern
steps against all involved.
2. Immediate steps should be taken against the principal and collage
management who failed to take necessary actions on receiving the complaint.
The investigation of their collusion with the accused and collusion of any
other political leaders including the ex-education minister or other
ministers must be undertaken immediately and stern action should be taken
against all those found guilty.
3. The government of Gujarat must immediately implement the Supreme Court
guidelines stated in the case of "Vishakha VS. State of Rajasthan" and
ensure that complaints committees against sexual harassment are established
in each work-place and every educational institutions, i.e. Schools,
Collages, Universities, Ashram Shalas, Hostels etc.
4. As given in the guideline the complaint committee must be headed by a
woman and at least one of the members should be from a reputed NGO who is
familiar in dealing with the cases of Sexual Harassment.
5. The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda must immediately establish
a complaints committee against sexual harassment as per the guidelines given
in the Vishakha Judgement and by U. G. C.
6. Committees should be established in all the faculties, institutions,
projects, hostels run under university and should include representatives
form female students, Ph.D. Students, permanent and temporary teaching and
non teaching staff.
7. All the women employees, teachers and students should be made aware
and informed about the functioning of such committee and the names,
addresses and phone number of the members of such committee.
*
___________________________________________________________________
* * Rohit *P* rajapati & *T* rupti *S* hah
37, Patrakar Colony, Tandalja Road,
Post-Akota, Vadodara - 390 020
GUJARAT, INDIA
Phone No. *+ 91 - 265 - 2320399
* Email No: *(1) [EMAIL PROTECTED] *(2)
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
____________________________________________________________________
_
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