NAGPUR: Stung by the criticism in the RFO Deepali Chavan suicide case, the PCCF (HoFF) G Saiprakash has issued directions to the subordinate cadre in the forest department to take series of steps to make the department offices a safer workplace for women employees.
Though the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition & Redressal) Act, was enacted in 2013, and detailed guidelines have been issued since 2013, PCCF office issued series of directions on March 30, 2021, five days after the tragic incident in Melghat.
The PCCF issued a circular directing to form various committees at different levels to inquire about complaints in respect of sexual harassment against women at the workplace. Instructions have been given to form committees and these committees have been asked to meet frequently.
“The PCCF’s circular is not new. As per the state GR issued on June 19, 2014, the office of PCCF is supposed to send an annual report to the government every year, which is not being done regularly. No review of such cases is done in monthly meetings,” alleged forest union leaders.
“Now it seems PCCF has pressed panic buttons by asking officials to follow the directions in the GR which already makes mention about grievance redressal and internal complaint committees, maternity leaves, human resource development training, conflict resolution and counseling. Had this been done regular, incidents like RFO Chavan could have been avoided,” said forest union leaders.
Meanwhile, forest officers affiliated to the All India Range Forest Officers Federation (AIRFOF), an apex body of rangers at the national level observed a silent protest in all the states to demand justice to late Deepali Chavan.
The officers sported black ribbons at work and demanded the strongest action against the culprits who were responsible for abetting the suicide of the woman RFO. The Uttar Pradesh officials observed Wednesday as the ‘black day’.
“It is most shameful that frontline staff, which is the face of any forest department, is meted out such shabby treatment,” said Haryana Forest Rangers Welfare Association. Similar sharp reactions poured in from rangers associations in Jharkhand, Assam, West Bengal, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, and other states.