AGARTALA, July 16 (TIWN): Despite all government provisions and official measures taken time-to-time to lay a check on working-women’s sexual harassment in the places of their work, the incidents are growing. As per the data of last three years (2012, 2013, 2014) accessed by TIWN from General Administration ( AR) department, states that seven cases of sexual harassment was registered at various concerned government offices. Departmental action was taken against two accused, inquiries are going against four accused and one victim withdrew the complaint

“Many of such incidents are not reported just because of individual hesitation, social shame and need to survive on the part of women. Ultimately, the harassed woman remains silent against her abuse” said a working woman of civil secretariat unwilling to disclose her name. 

The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, passed after the outrage over the December 2012 gang-rape case in Delhi, makes it mandatory for all offices with 10 or more employees to have an internal complaints committee to address grievances within a stipulated time or face penalty. Sexual harassment at the workplace may lead to termination of service of the accused, withholding of promotions and increments, and payment of reasonable compensation to the complainant.

Under the Apex Court’s directives to all private as well as government run organizations a special cell to look into grievances of sexually harassed women was to be constituted. However, it is high time now to look into this problem with public support as the cases of sexual abuse to women are on the rise, and the Apex Court is too viewing it seriously.