COMMITTEES


ANTI SEXUAL HARASSMENT COMMITTEE

OBJECTIVES:

It is important to create awareness among all sections of personnel associated with a school, namely Children, Staff (teaching/non-teaching) and Parents about the risks involved with regard to Sexual Harassment and simple preventive measures that can be taken to reduce these risks.

PROCEDURE:

The Committee deals with issues relating to sexual harassment and child in School. It is applicable to all students, staff and faculty. A complaint of discrimination or sexual harassment may be lodged by the victim or a third party. A written complaint may be addressed to the Chairman of the committee. If the complaint is made to any of the Committee members, they may forward it to the Chairman of the Committee against Sexual Harassment. Regular review aims to ensure that all issues are being addressed and that consultative arrangements are effective.

Types of Harassment:

Bullying:

Creating awareness of bullying, other forms of physical or sexual abuse: Most children may not be aware of the dangers they are exposed to, a result of two factors - their innocent minds and their trusting personalities. While care must be taken not to instill such terror in them that they are fearful of simple day-to-day living, it is essential to give them enough of an idea of some evils that do lurk and what they can do to prevent them. Bullying as a concept is easily understood and far easier for the school to put inputs in place, as part of its Anti-bullying policy.

Good touch, Bad touch:

Every child must be told about the difference between good touch and bad touch (also explained as safe and unsafe touch), and specific parts of the body which should not be touched or circumstances which makes these exceptions okay (specifically only mother giving bath, doctor examining in presence of parent, etc). The child must understand that if the touch makes him/ her uncomfortable, she/he must report it, and must be encouraged to report feeling uncomfortable from a very early age.

Strangers:

Every child must be trained to be careful of strangers and never talk to strangers, but most importantly, never go anywhere with a stranger. Children must be given specific examples that they must never go with a stranger even if they are told that the mother/ father asked him to pick them up because of xyz reason. All strangers may not grab them, but some may entice them with sweets/ice-cream and they should not fall into this trap.

Yell, Run & Tell:

This mantra must be taught to every child. It explains what to do if someone touches you or comes close to touch you in a way that makes you uncomfortable or scared. First step - yell loudly (this has the dual purpose of attracting attention of anyone nearby as well as giving the perpetrator the clear message that s/he cannot get away with this and must stop immediately). Second step - run as fast as you can, to put maximum distance between you and the perpetrator. Third step - Tell - be sure to talk to your teacher/friend/parents about this so that action can be taken.

Awful acquaintances:

Children should also be made aware that it is not only strangers who may cross the line with bad touch, but it is often known persons as well who could do this, after making them promise to keep the secret. They must be encouraged to share this immediately with a trusted adult.

Elimination of suppression:

Many children believe that it is better to remain silent rather than report an offence to themselves or others, for the following reasons:

They believe they may get into trouble or get a scolding if they report, hence they prefer to remain silent. They may see threat that, if they tell, they will be killed / harmed or are blackmailed into silence by some other threat. A lot of children know instinctively that, when someone tries to abuse them physically, something is wrong. To their innocent minds however, it is not clear who the wrongdoer is. They are not clear that the problem is not with them but with the other person, so mistakenly assume they may be part of the problem and therefore remain silent.

DUTIES:

Committee coming across the below mentioned complaint from the victim or 3rd party has to take disciplinary action.

☛ Physical contact and advances

☛ Demand or request for sexual favors

☛ Sexually colored remarks.

☛ Allow children to engage in sexually provocative games with each other

☛ Showing pornography; and

☛ Other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of a sexual nature

☛ Showing pornography; and

☛ Other unwelcome physical, verbal or non – verbal conduct.

☛ Eve-teasing, Unsavory remarks, innuendo and taunts, Jokes causing or likely to cause awkwardness or embarrassment

☛ Gender based insults or sexist remarks

☛ Unwelcome sexual overtone in any manner such as over telephone (obnoxious telephone calls)

☛ Touching or brushing against any part of the body and the like

☛ Displaying pornographic or offensive or derogatory pictures, cartoons, or sayings.

☛ Forcible physical touch or molestation.

☛ Physical confinement against one’s will and any other act likely to violate one’s privacy.

NORMS TO BE FOLLOWED:

☛ Members should be of different backgrounds.

☛ More than 50% of members should be women.

☛ Grievance Redresser process.

☛ Action to be taken for sexual Harassment against the guilty.

Committee members:

1. Shri. K. Venkateswaran, Principal - Committee Chairman

2. Smt. P. Devi Arun, Vice Principal

3. Smt. M. Hashini, Academic Coordinator

4. Smt. D. Divya, Teacher

5. Smt. R. Ranjani Devi, Teacher

6. Smt. Gayatri Pati, Teacher


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