GUWAHATI, Oct 3 - Anju Talukdar, Executive Director of Multiple Action Research Group (MARG), New Delhi in association with British Council held an awareness programme on the Sexual Harassment (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013 (SHA) for the students of Royal School of Law and Administration at the Royal Global University (RGU) here today.
Dr SP Singh, Vice Chancellor, RGU, while addressing the students, said it is important to know about tahe Act, its uses and abuses. It is a known fact that unethical and educated persons often abuse laws for their selfish ends. Students must imbibe qualities of a law abiding citizen, in tune with all ethical aspects, to build a just society.
Talukdar said the Sexual Harassment (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013, is an important Act for women at workplace. It came into place after a PIL was filed by Vishakha after the gang-rape of Bhanwari Devi (from Rajasthan) in 1992 as she had protested against child marriage. Until 2012, Vishakha guidelines were in place as per the Supreme Court, but the Nirbhaya gang-rape changed the thought process of the country and in 2013, The Sexual Harassment (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013 came into total effect across India, applicable to all workplaces where women are recruited. This Act is a beneficial legislation, women-centric and not a criminal statute, Talukdar asserted.
�Meat for one is poison for another,� Talukdar said, explaining how not all overtures are sexual in nature. Keeping in mind that students are going to be future employers or employees, it is pertinent for them to understand the various aspects of the Act including verbal, non-verbal or physical harassment.
