WOMEN IN WORKPLACE
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WOMEN IN WORKPLACE

Of late there is increasing awareness about the need to ensure safety of women in working places as hordes of young women defying old age beliefs have taken in to multitude of jobs in public and private sector. Sexual harrassment at workplace was a thing which women had to silently endure because most of the times the tormentors were their superiors and bosses. SC in a landmark judgment called Visakha judgment called for a comprehensive redressal mechanism in the workplace to address such issues with stringent penalties and punishments for the perpetrators. Only after the recent Delhi rape case, the Government enacted a law and changed IPC to bring more acts of sexual harassment under the ambit of rape/molestation. Very recently, young interns have complained albeit informally in their blogs on the trauma they underwent when an aged SC judge since retired who was old enough to be her grandfather for making sexual overtures. Another Lawyer has alleged that her superior a celebrity lawyer also made sexual overtures. Both these women have chosen not to pursue their complaints for their own reasons. The CJI had constituted a three member panel to go into these issues and the intern has already testified before it. Former SC judge, the venerable KrishnaIyer has called to name the judge accused on account of transparency. 

Another young woman complained to the Managing Editor of Tehelka a fearless magazine promoted by Tarun Tejpal that the man attempted molesting her in a passenger lift in Goa two times. Tejpal issued a lengthy statement stating that he regretted his behaviour which he claimed was due to bad lapse of judgement and awful misreading of the situation- suggesting that the episode could have been consensual. In true moral hypocrisy, he has sought to atone for his sin by rescuing himself from the editor ship for a period of 6 months( Any one remembers the SC verdict in TANSI Case which called for atonement by the accused?) All hell has broken loose with Arun jaitley claiming that since Tejpal is a Congress sympathiser he gets support. 

Gender disparity has been there from age immemorial. Women have been facing such situations at households where housemaids are being misused by their sahebs, You can watch adventerous advancements in crowed buses, Why even in an enlightended society like USA, a President was embroiled in a sex scandal. John Kennedy Marlyn Manroe is a folklore We have had Bersculonis, Edward Heiths who were also embroiled in sex scandals. When I was young, I was also continuously attracted towards the opposite sex and had tried to woo some of them even though my moral upbringing forbade me from taking advantages when opportunities existed. It may also be due to fear of getting caught. 

When you claim equality of gender and willingly take up jobs in male bastions, we must be prepared to face the challenges. The women in question could have on their own retaliated boldly including indulging in physical assault. Former Kerala CM late EK Nayanar once remarked as long as women are there there will be flesh trade( Pen undengil, pen vanibam undagum) He also dismissed rape as being akin to drinking a cup of tea in America. He earned the wrath of many activits even though he was only stating the obvious. All of us are not Swami Vivekanand to practice celibacy and call all women as sisters. God has gifted an uncanny sense of premonition to every women. She can judge by the looks, speeches and body language of men as to what he intends to do next. Very few of modern day women are gullible as they are economically independent. 

Not long ago, IAS officer Ruben went to court seeking to punish the celebrity cop KPS Gill for having patted her on the back in a socialising party where drinks were served. 

I am not at all dismissive of the seriousness of such attempts to molest women in working places but these were to be expected and women need to be cautious They can ensure their own safety in many ways. They can be fearless and forthright if they feel their boss is crossing the limits of decency. They can bring this matter at an early stage because such crimes are not committed at the spur of the moment and are done after a meticulous planning. 

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