Latest news with #InternalCommittee


NDTV
19-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Odisha: Higher Educational Institutes Directed To Display Women Helpline Number On campus
The Odisha Higher Education Department on Friday directed all state public and private universities, as well as government, aided, and unaided degree colleges under its jurisdiction, to take urgent steps to ensure that Women Helpline number is displayed prominently at important locations on their respective campuses. The department through an official letter issued on Friday instructed all the higher educational institutions to ensure the mandatory and prominent display of the women's helpline number "181" at strategic locations within their campuses. The department also shared a soft copy of the display design instructing immediate compliance of the order. This apart, the higher educational institutions have also been asked to organise sensitisation workshops on of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013 and UGC Regulations, 2015. These workshops must involve teaching and non-teaching staff, Internal Committee (IC) members, and students. The department also directed the educational institutions to ensure that a pledge will be taken by the participants to abide by the principles enshrined in the POSH Act, 2013 and the UGC regulations during the sensitisation programme. The universities and colleges have been asked to organise the sensitisation programmes within three days of issuance of this official letter. Notably, the Odisha Higher Education Department has a few days ago issued an urgent directive to all state public and private universities, as well as government, aided, and unaided degree colleges to submit reports regarding the constitution and functioning of the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) under Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013. The issue of women's safety on the campus of higher educational institutions has recently taken center stage in Odisha after the tragic death of a girl student from Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore, following self-immolation attempt over alleged sexual harassment by one of the faculty members.


Hans India
16-07-2025
- Hans India
Father Claims Daughter Was Murdered, Not Suicide After Odisha Student's Self-Immolation Over Sexual Harassment
The father of a 20-year-old student from Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Odisha's Balasore has made explosive allegations following his daughter's tragic death, claiming she was murdered rather than having committed suicide. The young woman died from severe burn injuries after setting herself on fire on the college campus, an act her father now describes as the result of a deliberate conspiracy by institutional authorities. The grieving father's emotional statements reveal his belief that his daughter was systematically targeted and pushed toward this desperate act because she dared to speak out against harassment. He expressed his conviction that the incident was not a spontaneous decision but rather the culmination of a calculated plot designed to silence his daughter's voice. In his anguished testimony, the father questioned the circumstances surrounding his daughter's final moments, particularly focusing on a private meeting she was called to attend in the principal's office. He demanded answers about what transpired during that closed-door encounter and why the family was not informed about the meeting. His questions highlighted concerns about the institutional handling of his daughter's case and the events leading up to her tragic decision. The student had previously filed a formal complaint with the college's Internal Complaints Committee, accusing Sameer Ranjan Sahoo, the Head of Department, of persistent sexual harassment. According to her father's account, she had disclosed that the accused professor was demanding sexual favors, creating an environment of fear and intimidation that ultimately became unbearable. The father revealed that his daughter had not shared the complete extent of her ordeal with him, but had indicated that the accused was applying continuous pressure on her. He recounted how Sahoo had even attempted to reassure him personally, stating that as her teacher, there was no cause for concern. This interaction now appears particularly troubling in light of the subsequent events. The young woman's complaints had allegedly been met with institutional indifference, with the college principal Dillip Ghose and other staff members failing to take appropriate action despite her repeated pleas for help. The father expressed particular anger toward the Internal Committee members, claiming they had subjected his daughter to additional harassment by confronting her in the presence of her accused harasser. The student sustained 90 percent burns in the incident and was rushed to AIIMS Bhubaneswar, where she succumbed to her injuries on Monday night. Her death has triggered widespread outrage across Odisha, with political leaders and civil society groups demanding justice and accountability from the educational institution. Former Chief Minister and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik has directly held the BJP-led state government responsible for what he characterized as "institutional betrayal" and "planned injustice." In his strongly worded response, Patnaik emphasized that the student's death was not an accident but the direct result of systemic failure and deliberate neglect. Patnaik's statement highlighted the disturbing reality of how institutional failures can have fatal consequences, noting that the victim had exhausted all available channels seeking justice but was ultimately failed by the very system designed to protect her. He described the incident as evidence of a system that chose silence over support when intervention was most needed. The family's demands for a comprehensive investigation extend beyond the accused professor to include scrutiny of the principal's role and the functioning of the Internal Complaints Committee. They seek answers about the decision-making process that led to the private meeting and the institutional response to their daughter's harassment complaints. This tragic incident has brought renewed attention to the effectiveness of internal complaint mechanisms in educational institutions and the protection available to students who report harassment. The case raises serious questions about institutional accountability and the consequences of failing to address sexual harassment complaints promptly and effectively. The father's allegations of conspiracy suggest that the death was not simply the result of individual misconduct but potentially involved systemic efforts to silence his daughter's voice. As investigations continue, the focus will likely expand to examine the broader institutional culture and the adequacy of existing protection mechanisms for students facing harassment. The case has become a symbol of the broader struggle for justice in cases of sexual harassment within educational institutions, highlighting the urgent need for robust and effective complaint resolution systems that protect rather than further victimize those who speak out against misconduct.


India Today
16-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
She was killed: Odisha student's father alleges conspiracy behind self-immolation
"My daughter did not die — she was killed," said the father of the 20-year-old student from Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Odisha's Balasore, who succumbed to severe burn injuries after setting herself on fire inside the college it a 'conspiracy', the grieving father accused college authorities of pushing his daughter to take the extreme step because she dared to speak was a plot against my daughter. She always raised her voice in college, so they targeted her. Everyone forced her to die. Is this not murder? They forced her to attempt suicide. Why was she called alone to meet in the principal's room? What happened inside that room? Why were we not informed?" he told news agency ANI, demanding answers from the administration. The student, who had sustained 90 per cent burns, died at AIIMS Bhubaneswar on Monday night. Her father claimed she never revealed the full extent of her ordeal but had told him the accused, Sameer Ranjan Sahoo, the Head of Department, was demanding sexual favours."My daughter didn't open up completely but said the accused was pressuring her. He even told me, 'I am her teacher, don't worry'. The Internal Committee members are responsible for this. They heckled my daughter in front of the accused," he young woman had filed a formal complaint with the college's Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), accusing Sahoo of prolonged sexual harassment. She had alleged that the college principal, Dillip Ghose, and other staff failed to act despite repeated pleas for death has sparked widespread outrage in Odisha. Former Chief Minister and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik held the BJP-led state government responsible for what he called 'institutional betrayal' and "planned injustice". In a strongly worded statement, Patnaik said the student went from pillar to post for justice but was failed by the very system meant to protect her."It is even more disturbing to think how a failed system can take someone's life. The most painful part is that this was not an accident, but rather the result of a system that remained silent instead of helping," Patnaik the family has demanded a thorough probe into the role of the accused professor, the principal, and the Internal Committee. They have asked why the victim was made to meet alone behind closed doors and what transpired before she walked out to attempt self-immolation.- EndsMust Watch


Sinar Daily
15-07-2025
- Sinar Daily
Student sets herself alight after college fails to act on harassment complaint
She claimed a professor had demanded sexual favours and subjected her to months of threats. Student dies after self-immolation over ignored sexual harassment complaint. - Photo Agency BHUBANESWAR – A 22-year-old woman from Odisha died last night after setting herself alight in protest over her college's inaction regarding her sexual harassment complaint against a lecturer. The victim, a Bachelor of Education ( student at a Balasore college, had filed a formal complaint with the institution's Internal Complaints Committee. She claimed a professor had demanded sexual favours and subjected her to months of threats. Despite assurances of action within seven days, no steps were taken, according to sources. The tragedy occurred on July 12 during a student protest at the college gates. In a sudden act of desperation, the young woman ran towards the principal's office and doused herself in flammable liquid. With over 90 per cent burns, she was rushed to AIIMS Bhubaneswar Hospital, where doctors performed emergency treatments, including renal replacement therapy in the Burns ICU. However, she succumbed to her injuries at 11.46pm on July 14. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed grief over the incident, vowing the "strictest legal action" against those responsible. 'The death of this young student from FM Autonomous College is heartbreaking. "Despite expert medical efforts and government support, we could not save her,' he said in a statement, ordering immediate investigations. Police confirmed the arrest of the accused professor and the college principal following public outcry and evidence of a cover-up attempt. The victim's father, speaking to the media a day before her death, described her as "unrecognisable," with 95 per cent burns and reliant on life support. He also alleged the Internal Committee and principal pressured the family to withdraw the complaint, threatening legal retaliation. 'They threatened us. They said if we didn't withdraw the complaint, they would file a police report against me. They told me I could be arrested,' he said. Meanwhile, the victim's brother, speaking to NDTV, expressed his determination to fight for justice and said he would not rest until those responsible were held accountable. The case has sparked nationwide outrage, with protests demanding urgent reforms to how educational institutions handle sexual harassment complaints. More Like This


India Today
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
One last chance: Kerala film body warns Shine Tom Chacko amid misconduct row
Malayalam actor Shine Tom Chacko was given a final warning by the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) over the alleged use of drugs and misconduct on film sets. The members of the film body informed Chacko's family, stating that he needs professional assistance to help with the intake of drugs. This comes after actor Vincy Aloshious filed a complaint against him for alleged drug use and misbehaving with her on 'Soothravakyam' to the media on Tuesday, B Unnikrishnan, general secretary of FEFKA, said that Chacko had used drugs at his workplace. "We have now informed his family members to get professional assistance for him to overcome the problem of drug use. We will not co-operate with him if he violates the assurance not to create any more problems."He further added, "People who get addicted to such behaviours or practices should be given an opportunity to correct themselves as that is the humane thing to do. But this humane approach should not be seen as a weakness." Vincy Aloshious lodged a complaint against Shine Tom Chacko with the Internal Committee. She claimed that she wanted to deal with the issue within the film industry and doesn't want to take the legal her complaint, an internal meeting was held in which Shine Tom Chacko apologised to Vincy. Mathrubhumi reported that Chacko assured that this behaviour would not be reportedly expressed her displeasure over the name of the accused being made public. While she was alone, Chacko was accompanied by his the complaint, the government conducted a drug raid and arrested Shine Tom Chacko. Initially, he fled the hotel to escape from the cops. He was then arrested by the Kochi police on Saturday following a four-hour-long interrogation related to a drug case. Later, the actor was let out on Aloshious, in her complaint, stated that she will not work with a person who are into drugs. She also stated that Chacko insisted on fixing her dress under the influence of drugs on the sets of their upcoming film, 'Soothravakyam'.Must Watch