 Early Times Report
JAMMU, Nov 30: Internal Complaint Committee (ICC) Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) organized an Awareness Campaign on "Prevention of Sexual Harassment" at SMVDU. The main objective of this event was to enhance the awareness about constitutes of sexual harassment, better understanding of individual responsibility, rights and the available redressal mechanisms towards prevention of such crimes.The formal welcome address of the programme was delivered by Dr. Kakali Majumdar, Presiding Officer, ICC, SMVDU. The event was graced by Dr. M. Sharada Potukuchi, former Presiding Officer, ICC, other distinguished faculty members, staff members, scholars and students. In this Campaign different dimension of sexual harassment was elucidated by the speakers. Sexual harassment can be of different forms-verbal, non-verbal, physical and digital. These types of unwanted activities create long-lasting emotional, psychological, and professional impact on survivors. The speakers also highlighted the role of the ICC, legal provisions, complaint mechanisms, and the importance of confidentiality and empathy while handling such cases. Prevention is better than cure; this point was emphasized in this campaign. Both male and female students were debated on a burning topic "Are false accusations of sexual harassment significantly affecting the credibility of genuine survivors?". It was clarified that false cases are rare, while fair inquiry and due process remain essential. The discussion emphasized that such debates should not weaken trust in genuine complaints. The session was highly interactive. Students and other audiences appreciated the clarity regarding ICC procedures and expressed increased confidence in institutional support systems. The organizing committee of the event comprised of Dr. Archana Purwar, Dr. Rajiv Kumar, Rajesh Sharma, Ritu Sharma, Akshay Raj, members from ICC and the student volunteers from NSS, SMVDU. |
