Corporate India taking more steps against harassment at work: survey

New Delhi: A year after the December 16 Delhi gangrape, awareness is on the rise in the corporate world as well. A study conducted by industry body Assocham has found that there has been a rise in Corporate India putting in place institutional mechanisms to deal with sexual harassment cases.

The study found that 49 per cent private organisations based in Delhi-NCR have established the mechanism as against 16 per cent in the previous year. Besides Delhi-NCR, 38 per cent of companies in Mumbai, 42 per cent in Kolkata and 46 per cent in Bangalore have put in place a grievance redressal mechanism.

While 42 per cent respondents in Delhi-NCR are satisfied with the security arrangements, in Mumbai (35), Chennai (38), and Kolkata (41) are satisfied with the security arrangements. The survey highlights that majority of respondents in Delhi-NCR travel more than 30 km of which 36 per cent travel more than 15 km every day.

Since only 35 get cab facility, there is an urgency to develop this system in Delhi-NCR to help the employees for their safe and secure journey. Some respondents have observed that either evening or night shifts should be banned for women or else suitable arrangements must be made immediately.

The study was conducted on 3,500 women employees from 15 broad sectors like BPO, ITeS, engineering, telecom, KPO, media, management, FMCG, infrastructure, food & beverages, advertising, manufacturing, textile, real estate and logistics in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Karnataka, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Dehradun and Kolkata.

"A sexual harassment complaints committee must be set up to deal with such cases. As per the Supreme Court ruling, it is necessary and expedient for employers and institutions to follow certain guidelines to ensure prevention of sexual harassment of women," Assocham Secretary General DS Rawat said.

The study found several policy related issues especially with regard to women, including safety budgets, security arrangements, redressal mechanisms, sexual harassment cell, service benefits & maternity, availability of suitable work facilities, among others. Vishaka Guidelines were stipulated by the Supreme Court of India, in Vishaka and others vs State of Rajasthan case in 1997, regarding sexual harassment at workplace. The court stated that these guidelines were to be implemented until legislation is passed to deal with the issue.

The guidelines suggest creation of a complaint mechanism for redressing complaints. The complaints committee should be headed by a woman and half of its members should be women. To prevent the possibility of any undue pressure or influence, the committee should involve a third party, either an NGO or anybody who is familiar with sexual harassment issues.

(With additional information from PTI)