Do Indian Women Complain against Sexual Abuse? Here are Some Shocking Revelations

Team Udayavani, Mar 8, 2017, 11:30 AM IST

New Delhi: Amid celebrating another International Women’s Day, in a shocking revelation, the recent survey by Indian National Bar Association (INBA) and Netrika Consulting and Investigation states that most Indian women still don’t complain agaist sexual abuse evenif there are special laws, rules are inforce in the country. Netrika Consulting is a professional risk and integrity company which specialises investigation, training women safety and providing ATS to corporates while Indian National Bar association, a professional body of lawyers in India.

The survey was carried at BPOS, IT sectors, education institution, legal firms, hospital and other working sectors with around 38 percent of them claimed of sexual harassment occurs at workplace, while 22 per cent claimed of it at school and college and rest 40 pc claimed of it occurring at other places. The questions pertaining to ‘Who sexually harasses you at workplace to the duration of harassment and if the company takes appropriate action or are aware of the provision of sexual harassment at workplace were covered in the survey.

It was found that 68.9 percent of victim claim of not complaining to the superiors on sexual harassment due to fear, embarrassment, lack of confidence in complaint mechanism, unawareness and due to stigma attached to sexual harassment and hence deals on its own. It was found that 68.9 percent of victim claim of not complaining to the superiors. It was found that immediate colleagues, superiors and others in the organization do sexually harass the victim and the duration goes from last than six month to over a year too.

Sanjay Kaushik, Managing Director at Natrika Consulting and Investigation, and member of INBA said, “The results have been shocking and there is a need for the companies to take the complaints seriously and act fast. Once the women would see the actions taken, they would complaint and simultaneously the harassment would end. The law protecting the women under sexual harassment needs to be educated to the women and the companies too. “

The survey finds the victims are maximum harassed physically or inappropriate touching and passing lewd comment.  This comprise of total 75 pc. While rests are sexism or asking for sexual favors. The survey also highlighted that the companies are yet unaware of following the Process under sexual harassment of women at workplace act 2013),  when they complaint, as 65.2 percent said that there is unawareness in regard to the policy.

The survey also found about victims being sexually harassed being shown sexual picture, touched in an unwelcome sexual way, having someone flash or exposed themselves on them or forced to do something sexual. The survey also found that 87.9 percent agree of sexual harassment occurs within our community and 53.6 have personally witness, perpetrated or being target of sexual harassment involving members of own community. Also 50.7 percent have been target of it online or on Social networking.

The survey was carried in Mumbai, Delhi, Ahemdabad, Bangalore, Pune, Assam, Jalandar, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Lucknow. Out of the many approached 6047 people, currently working, including men and women participated and 45 victims too participated in the survey. While 78 percent were females, 22 percent males participated in the survey. The lawyer’s body carried the survey to understand the severity and present status of sexual harassment at workplace in India.

Advocate Zameer Nathani , Honorary National Secretary, Indian National Bar Association, said, “While conducting the survey, “We found that the sexual harassment cases are still on a high in the country and the most shocking is the unawareness about the Sexual Harassment of women at workplace (prevention, prohibition and redressed) Act 2013. We found during the survey that the women are sexually harassed by lewd comments, asking for sexual favors, touching inappropriately, eve teasing etc. The act has clearly defined the rights of the women and the complaint mechanism to be at the workplace.”

                                        Percentage Wise Survey Report

Participants: Female 78%, Male 22%
Sector
IT BPO/KPO -45%
Education-Teaching-21.4%
Food-Agriculture- 11.9%
Hospital -9.5%
Legal-7.1%

Where did you Experience Sexual Harassment?  
Workplace – 37.8%, School/College – 22.2%, Other Places 40%

Who sexually harassed you and how long?
Immediate Manager and Fellow Collegue-28.9%
Senior leaders of organization – 17.8
Others -53.3%

Less than 6 Month – 60%
Six to 12 Months -11.1%
12 Months and above -28.9%

Did you Complain 
Complaint-31.1%
Not Complained – 68.9%

What did the sexual harassment involve?
Sexism-12.5%
Comments-25%
Inappropriate Touching-25%
Asking for Sexual favors-12.5%
Physical Harassment- 25%.

Did the Company follow the Process under Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act 2013-

Yes – 34.8%
No-65.2%

Did internal complaints committee dealt fairly

No-33.3%
Yes-66.7%

After the closure of the case did the woman continue working?

Yes-50%
No-50%

Were you treated fairly supported by your peers during the inquiry period?

Yes-57.8%
No-42.2%

Victims claim of going through the stigma and   attached with abused and treated foster by collegue and one of the reason of not complaining

Whether the memberd of internal committee aware of sections and law of protection and provision under sexual harassment?

Yes-53.3%, No- 46.7%

Being shown sexual or sexy picture that you did not wanted to see

Did not happen -69.2%
Happen once-20.6%
Happen more than once 10.2%

Being touched in an unwelcome sexual way                                                         Didn’t happen -57.3%
Happen once – 25.7%
Happen more than once 17%

Having someone flash or expose themselves to you
Did not happen -74.09%
Happen once – 18.5%
Happen more than once – 7.4%

Being forced to do something sexual
Did not happen -84.2%
Happen once – 10.5%
Happen more than once 5.3%

                                                            Part Two
 

Sexual harassment occurs within our community
Agree-87.9%, Disagree-12.1%

Have you personal witnessed, perpetrated or being target of sexual harassment involving members of our community

Agree – 53.6%, Disagree- 46.4%

Have you witness of being target of sexual harrasmnet online or on social networking

Agree-50.7%, Disagree-49.3%

Do you believe that the student body has the power to do something against sexual harassment?

Agree-84.7%, Disagree-15.3%

Parents, teachers, counselors, society, administrators have power to do something

Agree – 92.4%, Disagre – 7.6%

You agree sexual harassment occurs at schools, colleges, society, and workplace

Agree – 93.5%, Disagree – 6.5%