CHARITA  -For a better change…

(CMREC’s Hub of Ambitious Radiant Intellectual Talented and Active Women

\The CHARITA, women cell of the college was formed on 8th March 2014 in formal sense along with the provision of suggestion and complaint boxes

The CHARITA is committed to providing a place of work and study free of sexual harassment, intimidation or exploitation

 All members of CHARITA, as well as all the teaching and nonteaching staff of CMREC are subject to these guidelines, and anyone violating them is subject to disciplinary action.

OBJECTIVES

           The objectives of the Committee are:

• Enhancing the importance and role of women in the society.
• Enlighten and motivate the girl students to understand their responsibilities     and   roles.
• Strengthen and enhance their in -built skills and capabilities.
• Creating a platform for girls and female staff to share their experiences, problems , views 

and exhibit their talents.

• Prevent discrimination and sexual harassment by promoting gender amity among students and employee
• Lay down procedures for the prohibition, resolution, settlement and prosecution of acts of discrimination and sexual harassment by the students and the employees.
• Deal with cases of discrimination and sexual harassment against students, faculty members or the staff in a time bound manner, aiming at ensuring support services to those alleging abuse or harassment of any kind.
• Recommend appropriate punitive action against the alleged perpetrator.

The Committee deals with

Here it should be noted that according to the Supreme Court guidelines sexual harassment may be defined as “unwelcome” sexually determined behavior (whether directly or by implication) and includes:

• Sexually colored remarks
• Showing pornography
• Eve-teasing
• Unsavory remarks.
• Jokes causing or likely to cause awkwardness or embarrassment.
• Unwelcome sexual overtones in conversation in person or over the telephone/email/SMS
• Touching or brushing against any part of the body.
• Displaying pornographic or other offensive or derogatory pictures, cartoons etc.
• Forcible physical touch or molestation.
• Physical confinement against one’s will and any other act likely to violate one’s privacy.

What should you do if you are sexually harassed?

• Do not feel ashamed. Tell the harasser very clearly that you find his behavior offensive.
• Do not ignore the harassment in the hope that it will stop on its own. Come forward and complain to the Complaint Committee.
• Talk to somebody you trust about the harassment. It will not only give you strength but also help others in similar situations to come forward and complain.
• Keep a record of all incidents of sexual harassment. If you feel the need to register a formal complaint later, this record will be helpful.

The Role of the Committee

• To act as Inquiry Authority on a complaint of sexual harassment.
• To ensure that victims and witnesses are not victimized or discriminated because of their complaint.
• To take proactive measures towards sensitization of the staff, students and faculty members of CMREC on gender issues.

ADDRESSING PROCEDURE

What action can be taken against the offender?

• Any employee or student will have the right to lodge a complaint by writing a letter or putting the complaint in the complaint box which is placed in the institute office.
• The complaint box will be opened once in a week by the coordinator of the cell and the complaint is to be informed to the chairman and coordinators  of the cell.
• The complaint will be afforded full confidentiality at this stage.
• After it has been proved that the offender has indulged in sexual harassment in the work place, appropriate disciplinary action would be taken against him irrespective of his status in the Institute (staff, faculty, student). Where such conduct amounts to a specific offense under the Indian Penal Code or under any other law, a complaint will be made to the appropriate authority for action in accordance with the law.
• Care shall be taken by the committee to ensure that the victims of sexual harassment and the witnesses shall not be victimized while dealing with the complaint. The victims also have the option to seek transfer of the perpetrator or their own transfer.