GRIEVANCE REDRESSAL AND ANTI SEXUAL HARASSMENT CELL

STUDENTS GRIEVANCES REDRESSAL CELL

Shanti Devi Arya Mahila College Dinanagar is committed to delivering quality education and empowering the students community. Towards this end,  the College has constituted the Students Grievances Redressal Committee for fair and timely redressal of any students’ grievances.

Our Aim:

The main objective is to develop a transparent, responsive and accountable attitude among all the stakeholders in order to maintain a harmonious and pleasant educational ambience in the institute. The main aim is to promote cordial student-student, student-teacher relationship and to maintain respect, right and dignity of all the stake-holders.

Our Policy :

In accordance with the University Grants Commission (Redressal of Grievances of Students) Regulations, 2023, dated 11^th April 2023, F.1-13/2022 (CPP-II) - In exercise of the powers conferred under clause (g) of sub-section (1) of Section 26 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956), and in supersession of the University Grants Commission (Redress of Grievances of Students) Regulations, 2019, the institution prescribes for a well defined system for redressal of grievances. Ragging in any form is strictly prohibited inside the institution. Any violation of ragging and disciplinary rules should be urgently brought to the notice of the Principal.

●       As per the regulations, Students Grievances Redressal Committee (SGRC) is constituted in the college to take care of complaints of the students, parents, teachers and non-teaching staff so that teaching-learning experience in the institution is not only hassle-free but also par excellence.

●       A complaint from an aggrieved student relating to the college shall be addressed to the Grievance Redressal Committee, with the following composition, namely:

o   Principal of the college – Chairperson

o   Dean, Academics

o   IQAC Coordinator

o   Coordinator, Grievances Redressal Committee

o   Coordinator , Discipline

o   Coordinator, Students Council

o   Head of the concerned Department

o   Any other faculty member, as per need

o   Hostel Coordinator, if required

o   Head Girl and class representative/s of the concerned class/hostel, if required

o   Office/Hostel Supdt., as the case may be

          ●       For convenience of the students, The phone numbers of Students Grievance Redressal Committee  members are also notified on the college website.

●   Recently, the institute has created  an online portal for grievance redressal for immediate report of any grievance or safety issue.The complaint may also be sent in writing through members of the Grievance redressal Committee or Grievance Redress Complaint  boxes placed at various places in the institution.

●   On receipt of the complaint, the Grievance Redressal Committee, as the case may be, within three days of receipt, fixes a date for hearing the complaint which shall be communicated to the complainant.

●       On receipt of an online/ written complaint, the Student Grievance Redressal Committee shall resolve the grievance within 15 days of receipt of complaint.

●     Grievances are resolved with immediate effect and satisfactory report is obtained from the aggrieved party.

●       Grievances which can not be resolved by the College, shall be referred to the Ombedperson (appellate authority) appointed by the GNDU, within the time period provided in these regulations.

●       The appellate authority shall, after giving reasonable opportunities of being heard to both parties, on the conclusion of proceedings, pass such order, with reasons there for, as may be deemed fit to redress the grievance and provide such relief as may be appropriate to the aggrieved student.

●       The institution, as well as the aggrieved student, shall be provided with copies of the order under the signature of the appellate authority and the institution shall place it for general information on its website.

●       The appellate authority may recommend appropriate action against the complainant, where a complaint is found to be false or frivolous.

●       For false or frivolous grievances, action will be taken against the complainant as per the decision of the Student Grievance Redressal Committee or the Appellate Authority.

 STUDENT CAN REGISTER ONLINE COMPLAINT ON FOLLOWING LINK

 Click on Link

 ANTI SEXUAL HARASSMENT CELL

 The cell is committed in moulding a generation which safeguards the virtues of gender equality and equity. The institution attempts to uphold the constitutional mandate ensuring the human rights of all those who fall within its jurisdiction. As per the guidelines of UGC, NAAC and the Supreme Court an Anti-Sexual Harassment Cell was established in the college to provide a healthy and congenial atmosphere to the staff and students of the College. The Cell meets the following Objectives: 

•       To provide a neutral, confidential and supportive environment for members of the campus community who may have been sexually harassed.
•       To deal with cases of discrimination and sexual harassment against women, in a time bound manner, aiming at ensuring support services to the victimized and termination of the harassment.
•       To provide information regarding counseling and support services in our campus.
•       To ensure that students, faculty and staff are provided with current and comprehensive materials on sexual harassment and assault.
•       To promote awareness about sexual harassment through educational initiatives which encourages and foster a respectful and safe campus environment
•       To develop guidelines and norms for a policy against sexual harassment.
•       To develop principles and procedures for combating sexual harassment.
•       To work out details for the implementation of the policy.
•       To organize gender sensitization awareness programmes.

DEFINITION

According to THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF WOMEN AT THE WORKPLACE (PREVENTION, PROHIBITION AND REDRESSAL) ACT 2013, sexual harassment includes any one or more of the following unwelcome acts or behavior (whether directly or by implication) namely:

•       Physical contact and advances; or
•       A demand or request for sexual favors; or
•      Making sexually colored remarks; or
•      Showing pornography; or
•       Any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature.
•       Any act falling under the purview of following cases will be considered as an incident of sexual harassment

Why is it important?

Any student/staff member can be a potential victim and hence it’s important for everyone to understand how to recognize and deal with sexual harassment.

Potential consequence for a student seen as a harasser – disciplinary action could be in the form of warning, written apology, debarring entry into a hostel/ campus, suspension for a specific period of time, debarring from holding posts such as member of committees or even expulsion. 

Potential consequence for a staff member seen as a harasser – disciplinary action could be in the form of warning, written apology, stoppage of increment, withholding of promotion, debarring entry into campus, suspension for a specific period of time, debarring from holding posts such as member of committees or even dismissal.

Procedure for Approaching Cell

The Cell deals with issues relating to sexual harassment in the college campus. It is applicable to all students, staff and faculty. A complaint of discrimination or sexual harassment may be lodged by the victim or a third party. A written complaint may be addressed to the Coordinator of the Committee. If the complaint is made to the Principal, or any of the Committee members, they may forward it to the Coordinator of the Committee Against Sexual Harassment.

What to do if you feel you are being sexually harassed?

•      Know your rights – Sexual harassment is illegal.
•      Speak up – try telling the person to stop. State clearly and firmly that you want a particular behavior to cease.
•      Get information and support – If you feel you cannot speak up, ask your friends to help you and bring it to the notice of the College authorities without further loss of time.
•       Keep records that might be useful for pursuing the case.

What not to do

•       Do not blame yourself. Sexual harassment is not something one brings on oneself. It is not a consequence of certain ways of dressing or acting. It is a violation of an individual’s right to work and live with dignity.
•       Do not ignore it. Ignoring sexual harassment does not make it go away. The harasser may misinterpret a lack of response as approval of the behavior.
•       Do not delay. Delay in action increases the probability that unwanted behavior will continue or escalate.
•       Do not hesitate to ask for help. Speaking up may also prevent others from being harmed.

Steps you can take:

•       Inform Class Teacher, HoD or Members of Women Cell or Anti Sexual Harassment Cell.
•       Approach the Grievance Redressal Cell for Women and file a written complaint.

Internal Complaints Committee

Complaints Committee was duly formed in the college to look into, and adjudicate matters relating to any kind of sexual harassment meted out to students or female employees in the institution. To that end the college has been vigilant about instances of gender discrimination, victimization and abuse, and acts promptly to address/redress any issues that violated the provisions of the said Act. Moreover, it plays a proactive role in averting instances of sexual harassment by motivating students to attend the programmes organized by the Women’s Cell of the college on gender discrimination, and sexual harassment.