PROTECTION OF WOMEN FROM SEXUAL HARRASMENT.

A woman who is ambitious to pursue the job. Now, hates her workplace. A woman who is ambitious to walk with the world. Now, has in fear to walk out of the house. A woman who dreams to be a manager. Now, hates her management. What did change her mind so easily? What did happen with this ambitious and workaholic girl?

There’s a small word.

Harassment. Harassment is a small word for those who never faced it. But, this is an ocean of depression for a woman who faced it daily. It has made to the security of women in the workplace. Harassment can affect a woman’s financial, physical, and mental state.

To see, this sort of concern. Indian constitution had made “Law”.  For the harassment, women can report under the PoSH against harassment.

What is the PoSH act?

“The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 Also referred to as the “PoSH Act” came into existence in 2013.

PoSH act is used for the safety of women in the workplace. So, women could feel safe in the workplace. PoSH act works as the guidelines for empowering women. Every woman should know about her rights. That law motivates women to feel safe for earning their bread and butter and fulfill their dreams with dignity. This law took under the constitution by the Honorable Supreme court.

First, we should know about the law.

How did this law come under the act?

The landmark case of Vishakha vs. the State of Rajasthan brought this action. There’s a heinous story, Bhanwari Devi behind this act. She worked in social welfare in Rajasthan and campaigned against the child marriage and dowry system. Where she was doing her job, people of a backward mindset were against her because she was preventing child marriage as her duty. Once, she went to prevent the marriage of an infant in her village. Cause of it, people got angry with her and boycotted her family from the village. Police, panchayat, villagers, and the system of the village, all were helpless. After the two days, marriage was placed again, but the police didn’t take any action. All the raged villagers wanted to take revenge on Bhanwari Devi.

One day, Bhandari Devi and her husband were going somewhere. Five men came and raped her. Beaten her husband badly. Four men were from the family of an infant whose marriage was trying to prevent by Bhanwari Devi. The welfare did not choose to be silent and raised a voice against the irony which spoiled Bhanwari Devi’s life.

After the hearing, the Supreme court decided to bring an action against the harassment. The court provided a proper guideline named Vishakha guidelines which have mentioned these things :

To see the case of Bhanwari Devi who was doing her job only. And numerous women who are suffering from such a type of problem in their daily life. Many women came to the road and demanded the law against harassment, rapes, and molestation. Article 14 of the Indian Constitution, This law helps women to raise their morale and work freely. This guideline is for enhancing the meaning of harassment.

1. Trying to do physical contact.

2. Demanding a sexual favor in the place of working.

3. Showing pornography.

4. Doing any type of harassment or molestation verbal or non-verbal.

Verbal Sexual Harassment :

Bullying, whistling, howling, making kiss sounds, and smacking lips. Referring as babes, darling, papakha, chammakchhallo, and item kinds of words. And trying to make unusual or dirty jokes or stories about torturing someone.

Non-Verbal Sexual Harassment :

Starring at someone, looking from up to down, blocking someone’s path, following someone, giving personal or sexual gifts.

Physical Sexual Harassment :

Rubbing or massaging someone. Touching someone’s clothes, hair, or body intentionally. Hugging, patting, stroking, or kissing without their will.

Online Sexual Harassment :

Sending someone unusual or sexual images. Sexting someone. Doing bad comments on someone’s photograph. Adding them to unusual or sexual groups. Posting hate speech on someone or posting someone’s picture without their permission. Adding someone in hate campaigns without their will.

How do “Vishakha Guidelines work”?

 Every office or public or private sector which has more than 10 members should have to make a committee. More than members of the committee should be women. The committee manager or lead of the committee should be a woman. If a woman is not happy with the committee’s decision, so she can file a police complaint. The committee should have decided within 90 days. No one can oppress her to change her mind. Every committee has to submit the records of harassment once a year.

This is a brief reference to PoSH law. How did it come under the law? And what is it? The old law has some loopholes. It is also for covering this.

“With the great power comes great responsibility.” as someone said it. We, the women of India, got so much power to deal with the situation we go through. So, we should not use it as a weapon against man to take revenge. Many girls take it as a revenge tool and cause of it, many needy women have to survive. So, use the law carefully and respectfully.