Statutory Cells

Internal Complaints Committee

Internal Complaint Committee:

Deshbandhu College for Girls believes in equality and provides a congenial environment with equal opportunities to members of all genders. However, in compliance with the instructions of National Commission for women and guidelines issued in implementation of POSH ACT - Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act of 2013 and University Grants Commission (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of sexual harassment of women employees and students in higher educational institutions) Regulations, 2015, Deshbandhu College for Girls has duly constituted a Complaint Committee for considering complaints of sexual harassment of women employed in the College.

ICC meetings are held as per need to address any complaints. The College has a zero-tolerance policy towards any such transgression and is extremely alert to matters pertaining to any kind of harassment and gender sensitivity.

Here it should be noted that according to the Supreme Court guideline Sexual harassment can be defined as “unwelcome” sexually determined behaviour (whether directly or by implication) as:

  • Physical contact and advances;
  • Demand or request for sexual favours;
  • Sexually coloured remarks;
  • Showing pornography; and
  • Other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of a sexual nature. (Vishaka judgment by Supreme Court)

The following points are also considered as sexual harassment and are covered by the committee as per PoSH Act:

  • Eve-teasing
  • Unsavoury remarks,
  • Jokes causing or likely to cause awkwardness or embarrassment,
  • Innuendos and taunts,
  • Gender based insults or sexist remarks,
  • Unwelcome sexual overtone in any manner such as over telephone (obnoxious telephone calls) and the like,
  • Touching or brushing against any part of the body and the like,
  • Displaying pornographic or other offensive or derogatory pictures, cartoons, pamphlets or sayings,
  • Forcible physical touch or molestation and
  • Physical confinement against one’s will and any other act likely to violate one’s privacy.

Composition of the Cell

  • Dr. Sampa Bhattacharyya, Associate Ptofessor (Presiding officer)
  • Mr. Kinjal Kumar Boral, Solicitor, Kolkata High Court (Solicitor)
  • Prof. Bela Bose, President, Calcutta Ekatma (Representative from NGO)
  • Prof. Nabanita Chatterjee, Higher Education nominee, Governing Body
  • Prof. Devbani Raychaudhuri, Associate Professor & Convenor, Vishaka Cell                                                                           
  • Dr. Ranjita Datta, Associate Professor
  • Dr. Om Prakash Choudhury, Assistant Professor & TR Member, Governing Body
  • Dr. Parjanya Sen, Assistant Professor
  • Dr. Sreoshi Chatterjee, SACT-I
  • Sri. Susanta Das, Accountant & NTR Member, Governing Body
  • Sri Kishore Das, Acting Head Clerk
  • Mahua Tarua, Student representative, Governing Body (Student representative)
  • Lakshmi Sharma (Student representative)
  • Jhumur Karan (Student representative)

Overall Functions:

  • To prevent sexual harassment at workplace.
  • To prevent discrimination and sexual harassment against girls by promoting gender amity among students and employees.
  • To conduct periodical programmes on women empowerment.
  • To provide conducive environment and congenial atmosphere for women.

Who can approach ICC?

Any aggrieved woman who has suffered harassment at workplace can approach ICC.
Aggrieved woman includes:

  • Woman who is an employee, or
  • Someone visiting workplace, or
  • Student

Note: A legal heir or a person prescribed can make a complaint on behalf of the woman, if the aggrieved is unable to do so on account of physical, mental capacity or death.

Committee Activities
Seminar
Seminar on Human Rights entitled, ‘Rights and responsibilities of children and neo-adults’ by Smt. Sudeshna Roy, Hon’ble Advisor & Former Chairperson, West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR) on 20th February, 2023 organized by IQAC and ICC, Deshbandhu College for Girls in collaboration with Uluberia College.

Workshop
Gender Equity workshop on 29th March 2023 organized by Vishaka Cell and ICC, Deshbandhu College for Girls, in collaboration with Syamaprasad College.
Speaker:    Dr. Parjanya Sen, Assistant Professor, Department of English, Deshbandhu College for Girls

Awareness Programme
Awareness Programme on “Gender Sensitization Programme” on 14th June, 2023 organized by Vishaka Cell, ICC and NSS & NCC Unit, Deshbandhu College for Girls, in collaboration with Raidighi College

Interactive Session

Interaction with Smt. Leena Gangopadhyay, Honorable Chairperson, West Bengal Commission for Women to mark the International Women’s Day on 18th March, 2023 organized by IQAC, Vishaka Cell and ICC along with NSS and NCC units of the College.

Important Links
• University Grants Commission (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of sexual harassment of women employees and students in higher educational institutions) Regulations, 2015. No. F. 91-1/2013(TFGS). 2nd May, 2016. https://www.ugc.gov.in/pdfnews/7203627_UGC_regulations-harassment.pdf
• National Commission for Women. http://ncw.nic.in/
• West Bengal Commission for Women, Government of West Bengal. https://wcdsw.wb.gov.in/cw/
• West Bengal Commission for Women. https://www.wbcw.co.in/
• National Commission for Women. https://ncwapps.nic.in/
• The National Commission for Women Act, 1990. https://wcd.nic.in/sites/default/files/ncwact.pdf
• Commission on the Status of Women. https://www.unwomen.org/en/how-we-work/intergovernmental-support/commission-on-the-status-of-women