SVVV conducts webinar on “Gender Sensitization and Sexual Harassment against Women at Workplace”

Women’s Grievance Redressal Cell of Shri Vaishnav Vidyapeeth Vishwavidyalaya organized a webinar on “Gender Sensitization and Sexual Harassment against Women at Workplace” held on 16 August 2021. Dr. Gyanmudra, Professor and Chairperson, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (Hyderabad Campus) was the resource person. In his welcome address Dr. Upinder Dhar, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Shri Vaishnav Vidyapeeth Vishwavidyalaya said that we cannot have a healthy society if we have gender issues. The inequality has gone with the advancement of time but not completely. He emphasized the need to sensitize the students so that a better society can be formed.

She familiarized the audience with the three stages of gender sensitization. Dr. Gyanmudra explained the term ‘Glass ceiling’ and said that this is an invisible line which women cannot cross. She discussed Vishakha guidelines and the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Bill.

Explaining the gender sensitization, Dr. Gyanmudra said that gender is not a women’s issue it is a people’s issue. Unequal gender relation stunts the freedom of the individual. She informed that after the 1970s, issues related to gender sensitization emerged. She familiarized the audience with the three stages of gender sensitization. Dr. Gyanmudra explained the term ‘Glass ceiling’ and said that this is an invisible line which women cannot cross. She discussed Vishakha guidelines and the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Bill. She elaborated on how to handle the complaints and the proceeding in detail. Dr. Gyanmudra familiarized the audience with the terms such as workplace aggrieved woman, workplace sexual harassment. She also discussed the composition of the Internal Complaint Committee, the roles and responsibilities of the employer, the inquiry process, and the penalty of non-compliance. Around hundred faculty, staff and students attended the webinar. The program ended with the question-answer session and words of thanks was proposed by Dr. Roopa Shinde Co-coordinator, Women Grievance Redressal Cell. Dr. Shobha Jain, Coordinator, Women Grievance Redressal Cell, introduced the resource person the beginning.