HIGHLIGHTS

• To create and maintain a community in which teaching, non-teaching staff and students can work together in an environment free of sexual violence, harassment, exploitation, and intimidation, Anna University has proactively established a cell for Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) under the recommendation of the National Accreditation and Assessment Council. This includes all forms of gender violence, sexual harassment, and discrimination based on sex/gender. This also meets the obligation as mandated by The Supreme Court of India, in its landmark judgment in August 1997 viz., Vishaka & others vs. the State of Rajasthan & others which stated that every instance of sexual harassment is a violation of “Fundamental Rights” under Articles 14, 15, and 21of the Constitution of India, and amounts to a violation of the “Right to Freedom” under Article 19(1) (g). This judgment makes it obligatory for every employer and other responsible persons to follow the guidelines laid down by the Court/ UGC/ AICTE/ HEI and to evolve a specific policy to combat sexual harassment in the workplace. Educational institutions are bound by the same directive. Following this, Anna University is committed to upholding the Constitutional mandate ensuring the above mentioned human rights of all those who fall within its jurisdiction. Thus Anna University has proactively established the PoSH Cell.

Director's Desk

PoSH Cell of Anna University is committed to sensitizing the campus community on gender issues, addressing complaints from staff and students, prevent discrimination and sexual harassment against women, by promoting gender amity among students and employees and deal with cases of discrimination and sexual harassment against women, in a time bound manner. The Higher education department came out with detailed guidelines to prevent and redress harassment in institutions. "The main objective is to create safe campuses for students, staff and faculty to function without fear, threat and anxiety" and the institution has the duty to ensure that students and staff are treated with dignity and respect, free from abuse or harassment. The guidelines also stipulate the procedure to file a complaint and formation of a committee to look into the allegations, moreover, conducting sensitization and awareness campaigns regarding the codes of conduct among all the people in educational institutions. In this connection, a web link has been created in the ‘Quick links’ of Anna University webpage for posting any grievances via email. Handbook on Sexual Harassment in Work place (UGC Act 2013 and 2016) has been uploaded along with the Internal Complaints Committee members list. Detailed guidelines for prevention and redressal of harassment in Higher Education Institutions have been uploaded on the webpage of PoSH cell.