New Delhi: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked institutes across the country to set up special cells to deal with gender-related violence and conduct gender sensitisation programme.
It said that safe and healthy environment for women students and employees on the campuses of higher educational institutes should be accorded top priority, a necessary precondition to quality education and research.
In a communication to the vice-chancellors on Friday, the commission emphasised that the internal complaint committees, which has been set up by the varsities, should work as mandated in UGC regulations to redress sexual harassment of women.
The communication did not, however, make clear whether the special cell will be an extension of the internal complaint committee or work as an independent body.
A 2018 UGC report tabled in Parliament had said that there had been a 50 per cent rise in sexual harassment cases in universities and colleges as compared to the previous year. According to some academicians, UGC rules to deter such cases hasn’t proved effective enough. The lastest missive could be seen in the light of such observations.
UGC, in its latest order, said that the universities should facilitate registration of grievances related to women and sexual harassment on UGC student grievance redressal portal.
Universities also need to prominently display toll-free number 1800-111-656 for registration of grievance.
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