Internal Complaints Committee on Sexual Harassment of women at workplace

Preamble

JSS Medical College has provided open forum to discuss the challenges and expectations about gender inequality, gender based violence and the insecurity faced by women in particular, in the college campus. The Prevention of Sexual Harassment Committee acknowledge with gratitude, the contributions of members of all sections of the academic community, students, teachers and staff representatives, women group and social activists. Sexual / Gender Harassment committee was constituted on 1.2.2012 at JSS Medical College. and Committee was reconstituted on October 27th 2016.

Objectives

  • Prevent discrimination and sexual harassment against women by promoting gender equality among students and employees
  • Make recommendations to the Chairperson for changes in the rules for students in the prospectus and the bye-laws, to make them gender-just and to lay down procedures for the prohibition, resolution, settlement and prosecution of acts of discrimination and sexual harassment against women, by the students and the employees.
  • Deal with cases of discrimination and sexual harassment against women, in a time bound manner aiming at ensuring support services to the victim and termination of the harassment
  • Recommend appropriate punitive action against the guilty party.

Activities

  • In order to create awareness among staff and students , in all the departmental notice boards of the college , boys and gents hostel and Hospital , a notice has been displayed prominently indicating the following:
    a) List of committee members
    b) What constitutes sexual harassment
    c) Punishment under various sections of Indian Penal code
    The above details was incorporated in the student academic calendar and distributed to all the students.
  • An awareness programme on sexual harassment is being organized to sensitize newly admitted students every year during induction Programme by non-practicing law officer.
  • Few of our faculty was deputed for training programme on Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of Sexual / Gender Harassment.
  • The committee meets twice a year to discuss about the objectives of the cell.
  • The Handbook on sexual harassment of women at workplace ( Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal ) is uploaded on website and same is being circulated among faculty and stake holders.
  • The committee was reconstituted on 24.9.16. as Internal Complaints Committee. Meeting was scheduled on 27th September 2016 at JSS Medical College with the introduction of new members and implementation of rules and regulations as per UGC guidelines was discussed.
  • On 19.3.2017 Orientation programme on gender sensitization was arranged for teaching staff , non-teaching staff and security personnel.
  • Workshop on Life And Liberty To Foster Safe Workplace was conducted on March 27th 2018 . Poster presentations on women empowerment and prevention of sexual harassment was presented by staff and students and the best posters was awarded with cash prize.
  • On August 1st 2018 Dr. Chandrakanth H V Professor and Head, Department of Forensic Medicine spoke on Prevention of sexual harassment in induction programme for Biomedical Sciences students.
  • On 1.8.2019 awareness talk on gender sensitization was delivered by Dr. Suresh, Principal JSS Law college for I MBBS students.
  • Awareness talk on Prevention of sexual harassment was delivered by Dr Chandrakanth H V Professor and Head, Department of Forensic Medicine in induction programme on August 2nd 2019 for Biomedical Sciences. MSc and MPH students.
  • Dr Vidya C S briefed about the activities of Internal compliance committee in foundation course for I year MBBS students on August 3rd 2019.
  • Dr Suma M N Vice Principal ( pre and para-clinical) of JSS Medical College, spoke on prevention of sexual harassment at workplace for first year Hospital administration students on August 21st 2019.