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Forwarding posting by Sahiyar, Vadodara, on their demo in the context of the
Patan gang rape -
Ammu Abraham
--------------
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.
_________________________________________________________________
Sahiyar (Stree Sangathan)
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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