SHILLONG/TURA: Pressure groups from Garo Hills on Friday organised a sit-in demonstration on the Tura campus of NEHU in protest against the failure of authorities to take action against one of its faculty who was earlier alleged of harassing girl students by sending inappropriate text messages.
Earlier, Head of the Department of Agriculture Production SC Srivastava was accused of indecent behaviour and the matter brought to the notice of university authorities.One of the victims had also filed a complaint with the women’s cell of the university in Shillong but the women’s cell refused to help the victim or initiate any action in the case by saying the victim did not provide ‘evidence’. The North Eastern Hill University Students’ Union along with GSU, FKJGP, AYWO and others decided to protest after no action was taken against the accused. The pro-VC said, “We have got feedback from the women’s cell who told us that there was only a complaint letter but no evidence provided. They are asking for the same to be given before any action is taken.”
Meanwhile, The Thma U Rangli Juki (TUR), while condemning the NEHU sexual harassment case, asserted that it would file a complaint against the university and the women’s cell for not implementing the Sexual Harassment Act, 2013.
In a statement on Friday, TUR member Angela Rangad said NEHU has failed to protect its students from sexual harassment.
Alleging that NEHU has no Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) as mandated by the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, Rangad added that in absence of ICC, it hides behind a toothless women’s cell.
“Even in an earlier complaint against a professor in the university, the matter became more complicated because the women’s cell not having jurisdiction under the law took up the matter but their recommendations not being backed by law were challenged,” she said.
TUR insisted that a formal ICC should be set up as demanded by NEHU Students Union.
