Nearly a decade after the University Grants Commission (UGC) issued regulations regarding preventive and redressal measures for sexual misconduct, the actual implementation in Bengaluru colleges and universities is varied.
Some students TNM spoke to were either unaware of what an Internal Committee (IC) is or were unaware if they had an IC on campus. Other students said that their colleges had merely established ICs, while a few said that their institutions had educated both students and parents.
The UGC issued detailed regulations for the prevention, prohibition and redressal of sexual harassment in higher education institutions that came into effect on May 2, 2016. These regulations are aligned with the Prevention of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act (POSH Act, 2013).
As per UGC regulations, ICs must be constituted on campuses, and contact information for IC members must be easily accessible. Institutions are expected to have a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual misconduct, hold regular sensitisation and awareness programmes, treat sexual misconduct as a violation of disciplinary and service rules and submit an annual report to the UGC on the details of sexual misconduct cases and the redressal measures taken in each case.
What students said
TNM spoke to students from six colleges and universities in Bengaluru.
“I don’t think there is an IC on campus,” a student pursuing a master’s in psychology at CMR University said. They added, “In case of harassment, we usually complain to our faculty member we trust.”
Another student at the same university said, “There is an orientation programme at the beginning of the year, but nothing was said regarding an IC or sexual harassment.”
While the students appear to be unaware of the IC, the website of CMR University has basic information on the procedure to file a complaint under the IC, along with a list of IC members and contact details.
CMR University officials are yet to respond to queries regarding the matter.
Students at Christ University were aware of the IC on campus and said that they had also been given adequate information in workshops held specifically for the purpose.
A 22-year-old master's student said, “We have a proper IC and a cabin allotted to them. We were given orientation regarding the IC at the beginning of the year, and they told us how to approach them.”
Another Christ University student said, “We have had a few sensitisation sessions regarding sexual harassment. We also had a few sessions on the weekends conducted by specialised organisations who were brought in to brief us. Apart from that, we had weekly sessions during our holistic development classes in our first and second years.”
Further, students added that an external faculty member conducted sessions on whom they must approach in the case of sexual harassment.
The Christ University website provides details on the UGC regulations, an IC member list along with their contact information and an annual gender sensitisation plan.
Meanwhile, a Jain University student said, “Yes, I am aware of UGC’s regulations, and we have an IC on campus. The university also holds workshops regarding sexual harassment once or twice a year.”
A student at Gitam University pursuing a Bachelor in Business Administration (BBA) said, “We do have an IC. They conducted an orientation programme. But I’m not aware of who the members are. If we need to lodge a complaint, we have been instructed to do so at their office. The university website provides IC member details, however.
At Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), students are aware of their IC and have been orientated. “We have an IC and Chief Student Officer (CSO). If a student faces sexual harassment, they can go to the CSO’s office to file a complaint. The CSO will act on the complaint,” said an 18-year-old sociology and political science student.
A first-year student said, “The college mentioned safety during orientations and introduced us to their support systems, including guidance and support from a mental health committee.”
Dr Geetha Maiya, Director of Student Affairs at MAHE, told TNM, “In 2022, as the Bengaluru campus was growing rapidly, a separate IC was constituted specifically for the Bengaluru campus. We regularly conduct awareness sessions and workshops for students to help them understand the IC’s role in addressing sexual harassment issues.”
The MAHE Bengaluru website also provides IC member details.
At St Joseph’s University (SJU), a student said, “We had an orientation programme at the beginning of the year. Contact information for the IC is available on the notice board.”
Dr Sayantani Banerjee, a member of the IC at SJU, said, “Every year, when the new students come in, we have two orientation programmes. One is for the students, and one is for their parents. We think parents should be aware of the IC as well.”
TNM also spoke to Aratrika, a member of the All India Students Association (AISA). She said, “Our society is deeply patriarchal, casteist, and classist. To combat all kinds of discrimination, it is important to have functioning ICs with democratic student participation.”
Aratrika emphasises the need for a Gender Sensitisation Committee Against Sexual Harassment (GSCASH) on campuses. “It creates a safe environment for students, as many campuses may try to shield perpetrators from being called out or punished.”