COIMBATORE: The One Stop Centre (SOC), started by the state government in September 2018 to assist women in distress, had received 331 complaints till now.
Unlike the local complaints committee, the SOC has received five sexual harassment at workplace complaints.
“Even though some of the women in distress just drop in at the centre, we have also been receiving complaints through women’s helpline number 181 and advocates. A lot of complaints especially issues related to domestic violence were received from rural areas,” an official of the social welfare department, which manages the centre, said. The centre has the facilities to accommodate five women for a maximum of five days.
“Even though some of the women in distress just drop in at the centre, we have also been receiving complaints through women’s helpline number 181 and advocates. A lot of complaints especially issues related to domestic violence were received from rural areas,” an official of the social welfare department, which manages the centre, said. The centre has the facilities to accommodate five women for a maximum of five days.
Explaining that they had received five sexual harassment at workplace complaints in the last two years, the official said that they could not proceed further with their inquiry as the complainants were not cooperative. They had received two such complaints in November.
“We would either receive an anonymous letter barely revealing any details or friends of the victims would approach us through phone. When we seek more details pertaining to the issue, they would not reveal any even though we assure to protect their identify. After a point, they would stop responding to us,” the official said.
“Sexual harassment is a serious issue and how could we inquire a person when we don’t know what happened,” she said. Women are willing to lodge complaints when it comes to other issues but not sexual harassments, especially at the workplace, she added.
“There is still a stigma attached to it. Once their identity is revealed, the woman will not have any comfortable environment at her workplace. Even though she is the victim, her colleagues would continue to ill-treat her. Due to their financial dependence on the job, they would have no other go but to tolerate and stick to the job,” Nandhini Parthiban, an IT employee, said.
Recalling a similar complaint at her workplace, she said that the management had sacked the accused but still the victim had to undergo mental harassment at the workplace.
Source Credit :- Times of India
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