Lok Sabha Question No. 140 (STARRED), answered on 2018-03-05
Subject: Saksham Task Force
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: KIRRON KHER

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No.140 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.03.2018

## Saksham Task Force

## *140. SHRIMATI KIRRON KHER:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: (a)  whether the Government has adopted the recommendations of the 'Saksham Task Force' set up by the University Grants Commission for gender sensitisation and safety on campuses; (b) if so, the details of the recommendations which have been accepted and those which have been implemented along with the manner of implementation; and (c) whether the Universities across the country, both private and public, have

- implemented the same on their campuses and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a) to (c): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (c)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.140  FOR  05.03.2018  ASKED  BY  SHRIMATI  KIRRON KHER,  HON'BLE  MEMBER  OF  PARLIAMENT,  REGARDING  SAKSHAM  TASK FORCE

(a) to (c): The University Grants Commission (UGC) had set up a Task Force under the Chairmanship of Prof. Meenakshi Gopinath, Ex-Member, UGC on 8 th January, 2013 to review the existing arrangements, identify loopholes and inadequacies and to formulate remedial measures to address the concerns of all girls and women, and of the youth who study  and  live  in  the  country's  numerous  and  diverse  University  campuses.  The  Task Force  submitted  its  report  titled  as  'SAKSHAM-  Measures  for  Ensuring  the  Safety  of Women and Programmes for Gender Sensitization on Campuses' to the UGC on 30 th October, 2013.

The  Task  Force  in  its  report  made  the  following  recommendations:  (i)  setting  up  a Gender Sensitization Unit within the UGC; (ii) campus safety policies should not result in securitization, such as over monitoring or policing or curtailing the freedom of movement, specially  for  women;  (iii)  all  members  of  Higher  Educational  Institutions  (HEIs)  must undergo processes of gender sensitization, whether students, faculty, administration or support staff. All students must undergo some course or workshop during their period of study; (iv) all HEIs must formulate guidelines for dealing with sexual harassment in their respective institutions, whether  they be autonomous,  affiliating, co-educational or women's colleges; (v) a handbook on sexual harassment and gender sensitization to be prepared for all faculties; (vi) courses and workshop modules on gender sensitization for all  sections  of  the  HEI  community;  (vii)  sufficient  lighting  in  and  around  campuses, reliable  public  transport,  accommodation,  toilet  facilities  and  health  (including  sexual health)  for  women's  security  and  freedom  from  harassment;  (viii)  strengthening  of women's  studies  centres  in  Universities  and  women's  development  centre  cells  in colleges;  (ix)  undertaking  of  recommended  Projects/  Research  Collation  of  existing materials  and  mapping  exercises  including  prioritizing  research  proposals  concerning sexual  harassment  and  violence  in  universities  and  colleges  (x)  NAAC  to  build  in  an essential  gender  audit  component  as  part  of  the  evaluation  process  in  its  assessment and  accreditation  procedures.  A  copy  of  the  Report  of  Task  Force  is  available  at http://www.ugc.ac.in/pdfnews/5873997\_SAKSHAM-BOOK.pdf .

UGC accepted the recommendations of the Task Force and to ensure compliance of  the  recommendations  of  Task  Force,  UGC  notified  University  Grants  Commission (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of Sexual Harassment of Women Employees and Students  in  Higher  Educational  Institutions)  Regulations,  2015 . These  Regulations describe responsibilities of the HEIs, grievance redressal mechanism, process for making complaint  and  conducting  inquiry,  interim  redressal,  punishment  and  compensations, consequences  of  non-compliance  etc.  UGC  Regulations  being  statutory  in  nature  are binding for all HEIs. A copy of these Regulations is available at http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2016/169477.pdf .

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