Latest news with #PreventionofSexualHarassment
Indian Express
a day ago
- Indian Express
Balasore girl wasn't afraid of demanding accountability. Her death shows how society continues to fail women
She skips ahead of her friend near India Gate in Delhi, her infectious energy captured on a video that is now viral on social media. 'She is our power girl,' the friend wielding the camera can be heard saying. The girl turns to the camera and repeats: 'Power girl'. On July 12, the 20-year-old second-year Integrated student at the Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore set herself on fire, succumbing to her injuries nearly 60 hours later in hospital. For about six months, the young woman in the video had been allegedly harassed by her professor. Since her death, social media has been flooded with videos of her — not just news reports about the self-immolation and harassment accusations, but also the reels and vlogs that she herself had shared. Of these, the one about her day out at India Gate stands out, capturing not just her spirit, but also the dreams that perhaps propelled her from Palasia village in Balasore district's Bhograi block to Fakir Mohan College. The most common sentiment expressed in the comments now being posted under the young woman's videos is disbelief — how, people ask, could a cheerful, spirited young woman take such a drastic step? A fuller picture emerges only when one watches other videos, news clips of her giving interviews to the media, her voice quivering but composed. In these clips, she speaks out against the assistant professor, also the head of the department (HOD), accusing him of asking for a 'favour', harassing her for months, and ultimately barring her from appearing for her fourth-semester examination. 'The reason I am speaking to the media now is because I want justice,' she says in one of the videos. She has left behind a deep sense of shock — not only over how her life ended, but that her many appeals to the college principal, police, local authorities and others appear to have gone unheard. Stories and theories about the nature of her harassment, and the 'suspicious' circumstances of her death have acquired a life of their own. Then, there are the videos which show why, even today, 12 years after the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Act was passed, women like her, who find the courage to speak up against sexual harassment, continue to battle misunderstanding and hostility regarding their predicament. In another news clip that has been circulating, another assistant professor of English, and a member of the internal complaints committee (ICC) that looked into the student's complaint, tells reporters that although the HOD had apparently asked for 'favours, he did not cause her any harm'. She says, 'if she did not like what the HOD said, why did not she discuss it with him'. The HOD that the woman is referring to is the same authority figure who allegedly instigated other students to complain against her 'netagiri (activism)'. In its report, the ICC found the HOD to be merely 'rude' with students. Six years after the fire lit by the #MeToo movement, sexual harassment remains misunderstood and women who complain of it continue to be silenced. It is seen as an unavoidable reality of life that must be endured. Growing up in Balasore and other towns of Odisha, it seemed to me that the only way a girl could survive was by developing a teflon coating around the mind. We were accustomed to shrugging off unwanted and lewd comments and hands that reached out to touch us as we walked through narrow lanes on our way to college. Was there, perhaps, a yearning to be invisible, as they crossed a crowded town square or passed by a group of men ogling at them? They — we — didn't need lectures that normalised or excused the loathsome behaviour of men. Social conditioning was enough. From what I've read about her, this young woman appears to have done better than many girls of my time. She wasn't afraid to be heard and seen, and in speaking of her ordeal showed the kind of courage that few 20-year-olds can and do. Her father, in interviews, has spoken about her aspiration to become either a social activist or a teacher. That vision was rooted not just in ambition but also in confidence — perhaps bolstered by her active involvement with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), where she served as a coordinator of the Rastriya Kala Manch. The student was also a designated self-defence instructor, empowering college girls like herself. On July 15, the state government announced compensation for her family. The cheque was handed, four days later, to her family by Balasore MP Pratap Sarangi — there were cameras present to capture that moment too. His office, incidentally, was one of the several places she had approached for justice. This promptness from the authorities, so evident after her death, may have saved her life if only it had come earlier.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Govt planning to install CCTVs in schools
1 2 3 Bhubaneswar: The Odisha govt is considering installing CCTV cameras across all govt and private schools, replicating the surveillance framework already in place in CBSE-affiliated institutions, school and mass education minister Nityananda Gond said on Wednesday. "The govt is exploring various ways to strengthen the child protection mechanism on school campuses and the education department is discussing this and related plans for immediate implementation of CCTV cameras to ensure safety and security of children," Gond said. Following the suicide of a college student in Balasore on July 12, govt has asked all schools and offices in the school and mass education department to form Internal Complaints Committees (ICC), in line with the provisions of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act. "Instructions have already been issued for setting up ICC committees and ensuring that they are functional. Besides, training of these committees will be initiated soon so that they operate effectively and sensitively address complaints from students," Gond added. The department also issued a directive to all district education officers (DEOs) to strictly implement measures ensuring the safety of women employees at workplaces and create a secure environment for students in schools. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals Undo "The safety and security of students is our priority. Schools will prominently display helpline numbers so that anyone can lodge their grievances without any hindrance. All complaints will be addressed seriously and sensitively," the minister said. However, parents expressed concern about the feasibility of the plan as many schools in the state don't have electricity connections. "In many interior schools, there is no electricity; how can they install CCTVs? There is a need for more teachers in schools instead of CCTV cameras," Rashmi Ranjan Pradhan, a parent, said.
Hans India
7 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
All depts asked to ensure women safety at workplace
Bhubaneswar: TheOdisha government on Thursday directed all departments to ensure women's safety at workplaces in the State. The direction came in the wake of the self-immolation death of a college student following an alleged inaction by the authorities over her complaint of sexual harassment against a teacher. Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja wrote to all government departments to ensure compliance with the Provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 by all institutions or organisations. In the letter, the Chief Secretary said that the implementation of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Act in workplaces and institutions is essential to ensure a safe, respectful and inclusive environment for all, particularly women. He has also directed the department heads and authorities that the compliance report on the action points be submitted to the Department of Women and Child Development within 15 days. 'Sexual harassment not only violates an individual's dignity and rights but also undermines productivity, morale and equal opportunities,' he said. Ahuja also mentioned in the letter that by enforcing the POSH Act, organisations fulfil their legal and ethical responsibility to prevent, prohibit and redress instances of harassment. He said it fosters a culture of accountability, encourages reporting without fear and builds trust among employees or members, ultimately contributing to a healthier and more equitable work or institutional space. Ahuja has also advised all the department authorities to go for the constitution of Internal Committee (IC), capacity building and sensitisation, time-bound inquiry and redressal mechanism, annual reporting and transparency and responsibility of management. 'The head of the institution shall be held personally responsible for ensuring effective implementation of the POSH Act, as well as for any lapses in safeguarding complainants and preventing retaliation,' Ahuja said. The Chief Secretary also asked all administrative heads to constitute or revalidate IC and ensure meeting of IC once in a month for the next six months to create awareness and build momentum for the campaign against sexual harassment in educational institutions. Thereafter, the ICs should meet in each quarter as per the Act. He asked the authorities to ensure the grievance redressal mechanism, such as the She-Box portal, along with details of the IC, is prominently displayed in multiple locations in all institutions, mandate periodic awareness and capacity-building sessions for all staff and students, monitor and enforce compliance through regular inspections and require all institutions to submit status reports. The college and school authorities are also told to regularly visit educational institutions and interact with students, the Chief Secretary said. The second-year student of Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore died at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar on Monday night. She had set herself on fire on the college campus on July 12 over inaction against a professor who allegedly sexually harassed her. Stating that the State government is committed to ensuring the safety, dignity and empowerment of women in all educational and professional environments, Ahuja said district administrations are therefore expected to act with urgency and diligence to create a safe environment for girls and women and uphold the provisions of the law in both letter and spirit.
New Indian Express
18-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Society needs more men to speak up on issues of violence against women, says DIG Ajeetha Begum
Haritha V Kumar, in her address highlighted the steps taken by the state government to strengthen internal mechanisms, stating that all 95 government departments in Kerala now have IC in place under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act. 'With the launch of the POSH Portal, we are now urging private sector companies to register their IC details. We have recently conducted a training session for stakeholders in the film industry, and a similar initiative is being planned for the television sector,' she said. Speaking at the event, DIG Ajeetha Begum, stressed the need for broader engagement. 'We need more men to speak up on issues of violence against women. In Kerala, around 18,000 cases related to violence against women are registered annually. Each district has only one protection officer who often handles over 600 cases. While our legal framework is strong, low conviction rates remain a concern. The rise in reporting, however, is a positive development,' she noted. Jeanne Briganti, Public Affairs Officer at the U S consulate general in Chennai, addressed the gathering virtually. She said, 'Through partnerships and knowledge exchange, the United States continues to support global initiatives that empower women and protect families.'
News18
17-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Odisha asks all department heads to ensure women safety in workplace
Agency: Bhubaneswar, Jul 17 (PTI) The Odisha government on Thursday directed all departments to ensure women's safety in workplaces in the state. The direction came in the wake of the self-immolation death of a college student following an alleged inaction by the authorities over her complaint of sexual harassment against a teacher. Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja wrote to all government departments to ensure compliance with the Provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 by all institutions or organisations. In the letter, the chief secretary said that the implementation of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Act in workplaces and institutions is essential to ensure a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all, particularly women. He has also directed the department heads and authorities that the compliance report on the action points be submitted to the Department of Women and Child Development within 15 days. 'Sexual harassment not only violates an individual's dignity and rights but also undermines productivity, morale, and equal opportunities," he said. Ahuja also mentioned in the letter that by enforcing the POSH Act, organisations fulfil their legal and ethical responsibility to prevent, prohibit, and redress instances of harassment. Ahuja has also advised all the department authorities to go for the constitution of Internal Committee (IC), capacity building and sensitisation, time-bound inquiry and redressal mechanism, annual reporting and transparency and responsibility of management. 'The head of the institution shall be held personally responsible for ensuring effective implementation of the POSH Act, as well as for any lapses in safeguarding complainants and preventing retaliation," Ahuja said. The chief secretary also asked all administrative heads to constitute or revalidate IC and ensure meeting of IC once in a month for the next six months to create awareness and build momentum for the campaign against sexual harassment in educational institutions. Thereafter, the ICs should meet in each quarter as per the Act. He also said that the authorities to ensure that the grievance redressal mechanism, such as the She-Box portal, along with details of the IC is prominently displayed in multiple locations in all institutions, mandate periodic awareness and capacity-building sessions for all staff and students, monitor and enforce compliance through regular inspections and require all institutions to submit status reports. The college and school authorities are also told to regularly visit educational institutions and interact with students, the chief secretary said. The second-year student of Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore died at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar on Monday night. She had set herself on fire on the college campus on July 12 over inaction against a professor who allegedly sexually harassed her. Stating that the state government is committed to ensuring the safety, dignity, and empowerment of women in all educational and professional environments, Ahuja said district administrations are therefore expected to act with urgency and diligence to create a safe environment for girls and women and uphold the provisions of the law in both letter and spirit. PTI AAM NN view comments First Published: July 17, 2025, 22:45 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
