post news network, Bhubaneswar, May 30: “It is a matter of shame that even after 60 years of independence the status of women has not changed drastically. There are still many issues which are making the lives of women tough. This is a reflection of the society and the prevailing thoughts,” said Lopamudra Baxipatra, chairperson, State Commission of Women, on the occasion of unveiling the findings of a study carried out by the Institute of Social Development (ISD) with the support of ‘Nirnaya’, an agency that raises funds to support underprivileged women, at Hotel Suryansh, Saturday.
The survey was carried out in Bhubaneswar to find out what the working women thought about their safety and whether their institutions were ready to tackle such situations as sexual harassment. The survey was conducted in the police department, corporate houses, NGOs and administrative departments of the state government, where the working men and the women were questioned about the safety of women in the workplace.
During her speech the chief of the women commission also said that her department would ensure that internal inquiry committees were formed in several places of work across the city and the state.
With the setting up of many premier educational institutions in the city and the entry of some reputed multi-national companies (MNCs), the state capital has witnessed a surge in the number of people coming to the city in search of career opportunities. A good portion of job seekers as also those who have migrated to the city with new assignments comprises women, who more often than not, struggle to fight against the odds to excel in a career.
Of late, there has been a growing concern among the people about the safety of women in the offices they work in. The question assumes greater significance in the light of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, which talks about the establishment of internal inquiry committees at offices for hearing cases of sexual harassment taking place inside office premises.
Women working in the unorganised sector, inside and outside the city, were more vulnerable to such harassments. “Taking care of women working in the unorganised sector is a major challenge. Due to laxity of law, they often face harassment and see little hope to tackle it. For them also we have local area committees to take care of their complaints; but many are still ignorant about the law. We need to create awareness so that the available remedies can reach to the needy,” said Namrata Chadha, chairman ISD.
The mayor of the city, Anant Narayan Jena, who was also there on the occasion, assured everyone present that he would look into the matters in his office and would extend a helping hand to all the employees of the municipal corporation. “The main weapon through which we can fight the menace is awareness. We need to make the women aware about the solutions. Show them the ways to fight injustice.”
According to the survey, 36% of the respondents had never heard about the law meant to tackle harassment of women at their workplaces. 41% of the respondents said that they did not have any committee to hear cases of harassment against women at their workplaces. The report also said that people working at NGOs were more informed about the law and its components. It also said that many people were still ignorant about what misdeeds would constitute sexual harassment.
The report pointed out that 40% of the respondents were of the opinion that gender discrimination and socialisation were the important factors responsible for sexual harassment of women at the workplace. Around 32% of the employees opined that if such an incident occurred in the workplace, it was the duty of the colleagues to provide emotional support to the victim.
Apart from the mayor, the women commission chief, the chairman of the ISD, Subhashree Das, director, ISD and Girija Devi, CEO, Nirnaya were present along with others while the findings of the survey were made public, Saturday.
The event generated good response and a number of people from different walks of life got acquainted with the law regarding sexual harassment of women at workplace and its ramifications. ISD and Nirnaya unveiled their posters meant to make women more aware and educate them, besides the report, in the presence of experts from different sectors.