In the wake of the national outrage and alarm triggered during the last year or so against the frequent sexual offenses against women, some of Pune’s eminent personalities joined hands to form a 'Task Force on Safety and Security of Women' under the banner named SEMAA: Stop Exploitation, Molestation, Abuse, Assault This task force was formed with a mandate to appraise fellow citizens of the growing concern for the safety and security of women of Pune and initiate collective steps towards arresting such crimes. CII was honoured to be a part of the task force, which also included Ms Anu Aga, Hon'ble Member of Parliament in Rajya Sabha, Ms Vandana Chavan, Hon'ble Member of Parliament in Rajya Sabha, Mr Pradeep Bhargava, Director, Cummins India Ltd and others.
Consequent to the passage of The Sexual Harassment of Women at Work Place (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal)Act 2013, the Task Force conducted a workshop on ‘Safety and Security of Women at Workplaces’ on 21 September 2013 at Persistent Office, Pune.
During the workshop a brief presentation about the new law The Sexual Harassment of Women at Work Place (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal)Act 2013 and its key guidelines was made by Ms Divya Chavan, Noted Lawyer. (The ppt has been uploaded on the site.)
Also, a survey report undertaken by some industries in the Service sector in Pune on the present working conditions of women at workplaces was presented by Mr Vishal Pai from Persistent (and is being uploaded on the site.) The survey came up with a recommended list of important practices for the safety & security of women employees which could be followed by the industries in different sectors including Manufacturing, Services, Healthcare, Hospitality, Research Establishment and Educational Institutions.
Ms Prameea Kalive from Zensar made a presentation on the different apps and technology available for helping the women in distress. (The same is being uploaded on the site) These amazing Technology Apps, once loaded on the handheld device of women employees, will help in conveying the distress signals and timely help could be solicited. These Apps coupled with GPRS can alert friends, family, companies and Police for intervention and prevent serious incidences
The new law stipulates that every institution having in excess of 10 women needs to have an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) to address issues related to Sexual Harassment. This ICC, which is mandatory now, has to have an external member from the NGO / associations committed to the cause of Women/ person familiar with issues related to sexual harassment. It emerged that as Companies / Institutions start constituting ICC, there will be a tremendous demand / pressures on such external members qualified to sit on ICCs. .
Under SEMAA a Bench of qualified/ competent persons who could be the potential external members on the ICCs of Entities in Pune was compiled and is being uploaded on the site for ready reference. However, it is made abundantly clear that SEMAA will not recommend/ underwrite these individuals for the role but will just present the options to Entities to do their own due diligence and selection .
The importance of knowing self defence techniques was also noted by the participants during the workshop and consequently a list of institutes providing such training is being uploaded on the site. However, it is made abundantly clear that SEMAA will not recommend/ underwrite these organizations for the role but will just present the options to Entities to do their own due diligence and selection.