Thiruvananthapuram: There could have been numerous #MeToo moments for a normal working woman in Kerala in the past decade and yet it seems the state has just woken up to the need for the
internal complaints committee (ICC) at all workplaces as mandated by Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.
The director of woman and child development has issued an ultimatum to all workplaces employing over 10 staff to form ICC and submit details of the panel by May 31. Though government had issued a similar directive earlier, there was no insistence on compliance. As a result, many organizations didn’t act on it, prompting the newly-formed woman and child department (2017) to act tough.
The number harassment cases at workplace – registered by women’s commission – has been steadily increasing from 2010. An analysis of the registered cases shows that harassment in government and private sectors increased from just 26 in 2010 to 251 in 2017.
Officials pointed out that unreported cases could increase the figures very much as lack of awareness and a sense of dread to upset higher officials have deterred many from raising complaints. In 2018, 66 cases of harassment at work places were registered by May and forwarded for inquiry.
In 2013, 86 such cases were registered in Kerala and the numbers rose to 179, 93 and 192 in 2014, 2015 and 2016 respectively which officials partly attribute to the enactment of the law.
The capital seems to be the most-unfriendly districts when it comes to offering safe and conducive working environment for women. Between 2010 and 2017, the highest number of cases were registered in Thiruvananthapuram. In 2017, 61 cases were reported in the capital, the highest among all districts. In 2016, it was 55, again the highest in state.
Special secretary, department of woman and child development Biju Prabhakar said many departments and private employers have not formed ICC. “We are enforcing formation of ICC mainly because it facilitates an internal mechanism that enables a working woman to report misbehaviour or harassment more freely with her colleagues. Such a system results in immediate redressal of complaints. We are also framing SOP on how to act on such complaints,” he said.
Chairperson of women’s commission M C Josephine said: “We have come across cases where women are verbally abused with sexual overtones. Most number of cases are being reported from unaided colleges and schools where teachers are subjected to verbal abuse for poor performance of students,” said Josephine, adding that not being aware of legal provisions was a reason why many cases were not reported.