Educational institutions are not just places of learning, but also a mirror of society and a place of building the future. The environment here directly affects the thinking of children, the motivation of teachers and the reputation of the entire institution. A healthy and respectful workplace is not a luxury but a basic necessity. Ensuring that women teachers and female employees, in particular, feel safe and respected at their workplace should be the top priority of any institution.
There have been many incidents in recent years where female teachers have complained of inappropriate behaviour, lewd messages and inappropriate actions in private by their own colleagues or superiors. Such reports have been coming from time to time across the country—long private conversations during free periods, unnecessary and personal messages on personal numbers, derogatory gestures through looks and words, and inappropriate demands in exchange for help at work or promotion. These are not just personal conduct irregularities but serious trends that violate the dignity and safety of the workplace.
Such incidents not only harm a woman’s mental health but also make the entire environment toxic. The feeling of insecurity weakens the confidence of female teachers. They are always alert and stressed, which distracts them from studies. Facing humiliating situations repeatedly breaks their self-esteem. Many women quit their jobs or seek transfer to escape such an environment. This also affects the students, as insecure and dissatisfied teachers are not able to teach with full energy and positivity.
To ensure safety of women at workplace, Sexual Harassment (at Workplace) Act, 2013 i.e. “POSH Act” is applicable in India. Under this, it is mandatory to form an internal complaint committee in every institution, whose chairperson is a woman and more than half of the members are women. On filing a complaint, the preliminary hearing has to be done in seven working days and the investigation has to be completed in ninety days. Administrative and disciplinary action can be taken if found guilty. It is also the responsibility of the institution to prevent any kind of retaliation against the complainant. Unfortunately, in many places this committee is limited to paper only and complaints are either suppressed or the victim is silenced.
The solution lies not in punishment but in prevention. For this, some basic steps should be implemented immediately in every educational institution. There should be a separate and safe staff room for female teachers so that they can comfortably discuss and have necessary conversations related to their work. There should be separate, clean and safe toilets for female staff and girl students. High quality cameras should be installed at important places, corridors, entrances, playgrounds and common areas of the campus and they should always be active. The footage should be kept safe for at least ninety days and only authorized persons should have access to it.
During free periods, male and female teachers should stay in their respective staff rooms. Sitting alone or chatting for long periods without any formal work should be prohibited. Private messages between teachers and colleagues should be work-related only and that too should be sent during working hours. Late night or unnecessary chatting should be completely prohibited, especially when it is between the opposite sex. Training programs should be organized at the beginning of each session about workplace conduct and law. All teachers, non-teaching staff and senior students should be included in this, so that everyone understands how to maintain respect and decorum at the workplace.
There should be a confidential mechanism in the institution where the victim can lodge a complaint without fear and shame. This can be in the form of an online portal, a sealed complaint box or a helpline number. On receipt of the complaint, there should be an immediate investigation, the accused and the victim should be separated and if found guilty, strict action should be taken without delay. Protecting the confidentiality of the complainant should be the supreme responsibility of the institution.
Women’s safety is not just a legal or administrative issue, it is also a matter of social thinking. We have to teach our children what respect, dignity and limits are at the workplace. Special classes based on gender sensitivity and self-esteem should be started in schools. Society has to understand that women’s safety is not an issue of any one class, but a question of dignity of the entire society and the country.
A safe campus and respectful workplace is not an idealistic dream, but the basis of the quality of education and the credibility of the institution. The environment of education can never be healthy in a place where women do not feel safe. This is not just a woman’s issue, but an issue of every person who wants to see his workplace full of dignity and decorum.
If we remain silent even now, we will have to wait for the next incident and by then someone’s confidence, someone’s career and someone’s life will have been ruined. Now is the time to break the silence—to make rules, strictly enforce them, and make every educational institution a truly safe and respectful workplace. This is not just the responsibility of the administration, but of every teacher, every employee, every student and the entire society. Only then will we be able to give the coming generation not only bookish knowledge, but also the biggest lesson of life—respect and security.
Author is a research scholar. She can be mailed at priyankasaurabh9416@gmail.com
