Empowering women for a better tomorrow

The violence against women is pairing up along with the improvement in technologies. There are distinct forms of violence and can take place at different events or places such home, public places or at colleges. It’s a serious issue concerning women and cannot be ignored as it is resists the enhancement of the country.  Since the time of social organization and family life women have been victims of humiliation, exploitation and torture by the society. As the era of social life came into existence, years passed by and time ; gradually changed the narrow mentality of mankind. However  violence against women haven’t been stopped thence . People tend to worship many goddesses but forget the helpless state of women in their own society. In the Vedas, women are worshiped as mother-i.e. the one who can create and nourish a life. But on the other side, women are suppressed and subjugated by the men in the patriarchal society.Due to the increase in violence in the society, it has become partially an unsafe place for women to express themselves. Parents need to be thoughtful or vigilant about their daughters and their whereabouts.

 The Government of India has also initiated a law regarding Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005.This law defines the various means of violence that women goes through in her life. Violating the law would be a punishable offense. Likewise many of the educational institutes also have established a Women’s Grievance Cell to empower girl students and enhance an understanding towards the problem faced by them and also initiate to make a safe and secure campus. To purely safeguard the rights of female students Women's Grievance Cell has been established for the college level, as it’s a growing community of women, who share a common purpose of learning, educating and working together on ideas that have the power to effect meaningful and positive change while fighting the odds they face. It is a developing network that brings women together to learn, laugh, and celebrate their authentic life. This cell was established to fight against the sexual harassment faced by women, and to free the campus from further such issues. Women, who face any kind of sexual harassment can lodge their complaint here.  This cell bestows to take strict action against the offender, and reward justice to the concerned victim. The grievance cell also appoints undercover teams to be vigilant in and around the campus and act in response if any misconduct is observed.

Pune has many educational institutes. Out of the lot there are more than 150 engineering colleges. Students from all over the world come to Pune for higher studies. Most of the engineering colleges in Pune have built Women’s Grievance Cell to increase both the quantity and quality of women in higher education. It also provides a safer place where a girl can enjoy her learning phase and can enthusiastically participate in not just academics but also cultural and sports activities.

Following are the functions of Women’s Grievances Cell

•    Promote a healthy working environment for all female staff, students and     faculties.
•     The committee would be responsible for maintaining communication with and   advising the institutions.
•      Work towards building a gender-sensitized environment at institute.
•     The committee shall advise the management about a broad range of issues and concerns that influence women's work lives and status in the institution at all levels and in every aspect of operations and educational programs.
•     Organize workshops and awareness programs at regular intervals towards building a gender-neutral workplace
•     To provide a neutral, confidential and supportive environment for members of the campus community who may have been sexually harassed.
•     To provide information regarding counseling and support services on our campus.

Thus Women’s Grievances Cell seeks to inform the campus community of one’s right to a respectful work and learning environment. It believes that if one can be respectful and also exercise empathy in interactions with others by not hurting anyone through their words or deeds, then one can create a campus that is free from all violence. The primary thing to be followed in any campus or environment should be should  give and receive Respect.