UGC seeks data from varsities by August-end

The University Grants Commission has directed all varsities and higher education institutions to send updates on sexual harassment cases by August 31 so that the data could be sent to the Union government.

All the universities and other higher education institutions in the country have been asked to send annual return on cases of sexual harassment as per the proforma issued by the UGC for the period from April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016, latest by August 31. In addition, these institutions are required to send details of the constitution of internal complaint committees and special cells via email.

Last year, the UGC had requested the universities and colleges must constitute internal complaint committees and special cells to deal with the issues of “gender-based violence.” The move came in the wake of increased atrocities on women and growing trend of gender bias in the institutions of higher learning.

“The required information is sought to enable the UGC to compile and furnish the information to the Government of India. The UGC has recently notified UGC (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of Sexual Harassment of Women Employees and Students in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2015 in the official gazette on May 2, 2016 which, being statuary in nature, are binding on the universities and colleges,” according to the circular sent by UGC secretary Jaspal S. Sandhu to the vice-chancellors of all universities.

The UGC also asked the universities to bring the circular to the notice of their affiliated colleges for compliance. “The colleges should send the report through their affiliating university. This may please be accorded top priority,” the circular added.

In recent past, the commission had ensured that all the universities and affiliated colleges circulate the Handbook on Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace, published by the Union ministry of women and child development, among students, faculty and staff.