Lok Sabha Question No. 380 (STARRED), answered on 2019-01-07
Subject: Sexual Harassment in Schools
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: RAJAN BABURAO  VICHARE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. †*380 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.01.2019

## Sexual Harassment in Schools

## †*380. SHRI RAJAN VICHARE:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is considering to set up Internal Complaints Committee to check sexual  harassment  in  the  Government  schools  of  all  the  States  of  the  country  in  order  to reduce the cases of sexual harassment against women at workplaces;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

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

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  PART  (A)  TO  (C)  OF  THE  REPLY  TO  LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.380 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.01.2019 ASKED BY SHRI RAJAN VICHARE REGARDING SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN SCHOOLS.

The  Sexual  Harassment  of  Women  at  Workplace  (Prevention,  Prohibition  and  Redressal) Act, 2013 aims to provide safe and secure work environment to women. The Act covers all women, irrespective of their age or employment status and provides protection against sexual harassment at all workplace and covers all educational institutions. As per Section 4 (1) of Sexual  Harassment  of  Women  at  Workplace  (Prevention,  Prohibition  and  Redressal)  Act, 2013 ' every employer of a workplace shall, by an order in writing, constitute a Committee to be known as the 'Internal Complaints Committee '.

Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS)  has constituted  an  'Internal  Complaints Committee' at  KVS  Headquarters  level  and  Regional  Offices  level  vide  order  dated  03.11.2015  to deal  with  the  complaints  regarding  sexual  harassment  of  women  at  workplace. Internal Complaint  Committee  in  Headquarters  and  Regional  Offices  of  the  Navodaya  Vidyalaya Samiti(NVS)  are  functional  which  deal  with  complaints  of  Sexual  Harassment  of  women employees at work place in NVS.

Central  Board  of  Secondary  Education(CBSE)  has  issued  circular  no.  18/2017  dated 25.08.2017 by which  its affiliated schools have been instructed  to constitute an  'Internal Complaints Committee'  and  take appropriate  action  as  per  the  provisions  of  The Sexual Harassment of Women at  Workplace  (Prevention,  Prohibition  and Redressal) Act, 2013. Further, the CBSE has issued a circular on 12.09.2017 directing the schools affiliated with the  Board  to  take  measures  such  as  safety  audit  of  premises,  CCTV  monitoring,  character antecedents verification, visitor management and training of staff and constitution of internal complaints committee on sexual harassment.

Education comes under the concurrent list of the Constitution and the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations have the direct responsibility to address the issue of sexual harassment in schools and work places under their territorial control. However, the MHRD has amended the Central Right Of Children To Free And Compulsory Education (RTE) Rules vide notification dated 28 th September, 2015 which mandates that, the School Management Committee  shall  be  the  first  level  of  grievance  redressal  of  teachers  of  schools  specified therein.  It further provides for constitution of Grievance Redressal Committees at the State, District  and  Block  levels.  Complaints  related  to  harassment  of  women  teachers  shall  be accorded priority and shall be redressed without delay.

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