Supervisors Allegedly Demand Sexual Favours From Woman Attendant In Gujarat Hospital

Supervisors Allegedly Demand Sexual Favours From Woman Attendant In Gujarat Hospital

In our culture, we always try to protect our daughters from sexual exploitation but we don’t teach our sons to not harass. Even though they mean well, many families — in an attempt to protect their daughters — end up restricting their growth. Many parents get worried if their daughters join an industry that is infamous for its perverse conditions. But women have dreams and ambitions and we have the need to be financially independent. It’s not restricted to a profession because women are harassed in the workplace – be it the film industry or health industry! And it doesn’t happen because women are out there joining the workforce but because often, the fence between respecting consent and harassment is made of power and opportunity.

Recently, a woman attendant of a government hospital in Jamnagar, Gujarat accused an HR manager and a supervisor of sexual harassment. She filed an FIR complaining they demanded sexual favours from her.

In fact, a few women attendants working on contractual basis with the hospital had filed a complaint alleging that some authorities had sexually harassed them. Assistant Superintendent of Police Nitesh Pandey said that the HR manager and the supervisor were booked under Indian Pendal Code Sections 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354-A (a demand or request for sexual favours), 354-B (Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe) and 509 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman).

 

One of the women told reporters about the perverse behaviour of their superiors. They alleged that they would send them “offers of friendship” and those who refused would be given the pink slip without even getting paid their salaries.

After these reports came to light, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani demanded an inquiry and set up a three-member committee for the same including a sub-divisional magistrate, Jamnagar’s assistant superintendent of police and dean of the Jamnagar medical college.

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The Gujarat State Commission for Women also got involved and urged the superintendent of police to hand over a detailed report on the sexual harassment allegations without delay.

We’re glad that the women who was harassed had the courage to speak up and take a firm action. This is unacceptable behaviour and is a threat to women feeling safe enough to join the workforce.

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Akanksha Narang

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