Madanapalle Institute of Technology & Science is committed to provide a safe workplace for all women employees and girl students. In this direction, MITS has implemented Government of India’s Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act of 2013 and as amended in 2016. A committee is in place to address any Sexual harassment related complaints. Girl students or lady faculty members can lodge any sexual harassment complaint: [email protected] or contact POSH Cell Coordinator Mrs. U. Vijaya Lakshmi or Principal, MITS.
The ACT
Having raised the bar of responsibility and accountability in the Vishaka Guidelines, the Supreme Court placed an obligation on workplaces, institutions and those in positions of responsibility, to uphold working women’s fundamental right to equality and dignity at the workplace. Three key obligations were imposed on institutions to meet that standard, namely:4 (AIR 1997 Supreme Court 3011)
◆ Prohibition
◆ Prevention
◆ Redress
In 2013, the Government of India notified the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act (referred to as Act hereinafter). Consistent with the Vishaka judgment, the Act aspires to ensure women’s right to workplace equality, free from sexual harassment through compliance with the above mentioned three elements.
About ICC
In pursuance of guidelines issued by Supreme Court, UGC and as per the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition & Redressal) Act, 2015, Anti-Sexual Harassment Cell (Internal Complaints Committee) is reconstituted to provide for the effective enforcement of the basic human rights of gender equality and guarantee against sexual harassment and abuse, and to provide conducive atmosphere in the campus, to all the staff members, employees and students of MITS.
Objectives of the Committee
-
To prevent sexual harassment by promoting gender amity among staff, students and other employees.
- To deal with cases of sexual harassment in a time bound manner, aiming at ensuring support services to the victimized, prevention and termination of the harassment.
- Recommend appropriate redressal and punitive action against the guilty to the Management.
- To comply with the provisions of the Sexual Harassment at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2015 (Act) and to develop and implement a policy against sexual harassment of women at the MITS.
- To uphold Women's Right to Protection against Sexual Harassment and for the prevention and redressal of sexual harassment of women.
- To evolve a permanent mechanism for the prevention, prohibition and redressal of sexual harassment of women at MITS .
- To actively promote a social, physical and psychological environment that will raise awareness about and deter acts of sexual harassment of women.
- To undertake all necessary and reasonable steps including the constitution of appropriate committees for purposes of gender sensitization and to conduct enquiries into complaints of sexual harassment.
Internal Complaints Mechanism
MITS has constituted Internal Complaint Committee (ICC) in pursuance of guidelines issued by Supreme Court, UGC and as per the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition & Redressal) Act, 2015, Anti-Sexual Harassment Cell (Internal Complaints Committee) is reconstituted to provide for the effective enforcement of the basic human rights of gender equality and guarantee against sexual harassment and abuse, and to provide conducive atmosphere in the campus, to all the staff members, employees and students of MITS. The committee has a team of nine members among them one person is Rotatory club president. The committee works for the prevention, prohibition and redressed of sexual harassment of women at MITS, as MITS has Zero tolerance towards sexual harassment.