Lucknow: An awareness program on Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) was successfully organized under the aegis of the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU). The program was presided over by Prof. Raj Kumar Mittal, Vice Chancellor, and featured distinguished dignitaries both in-person and online.
Dr. Ashima Mangla, Joint Secretary of the University Grants Commission (UGC), joined as the Chief Guest virtually, while Mrs. Vijaya Bharti Sayani, NHRC member, attended as the Guest of Honour. Prof. Abha Mishra, Chairperson of the ICC, BBAU, also played a key role in organizing the event. The program commenced with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp and floral tributes to Babasaheb Ambedkar, followed by the university anthem. Tokens of appreciation, including plants, shawls, and mementos, were presented to the guests and faculty members.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. Mittal highlighted that increasing awareness and reporting of crimes is a positive trend and emphasized that meaningful change requires collective action across all sections of society. He referred to the Vishakha Guidelines, which empower women to raise their voices against injustice, and stressed that the ICC aims to create a safe, gender-equal campus environment by addressing complaints with transparency and promptness. He also underlined the importance of continuous dialogue between teachers and students to foster trust and respect.
Vijaya Bharti Sayani emphasized the ICC’s responsibility to maintain a respectful and fear-free campus environment. She discussed the historical significance of the Vishakha Guidelines (1997) and the UGC Regulations 2015, which mandate the establishment of ICCs in higher education institutions. Highlighting case studies, she encouraged women to courageously report incidents of harassment and stressed the role of awareness and dialogue in promoting trust on campuses.
Dr. Ashima Mangla outlined UGC’s measures to safeguard women, including mandatory ICCs, gender sensitization training, workshops, awareness campaigns, complaint boxes, and helplines. She highlighted the SAKSHAM Portal, which allows students to register complaints online for a more transparent and accessible process.
During the event, the Vice Chancellor and guests released the handbook ‘Pathway to Safe Campus’, prepared by the ICC. Winners of the ICC-organized slogan competition were also honored with certificates of appreciation. Participants actively engaged in discussions, asking questions about the ICC, POSH Act, and campus safety, which were addressed comprehensively by the dignitaries.
Special lecture sessions were conducted for faculty, staff, and students. The first session, chaired by Dr. V.K. Singh, Advocate of the High Court, focused on UGC Regulations 2013 vs UGC Regulations 2015 and gender-specific features. The second session, led by Psychologist Dr. Shazia Siddiqui, addressed the psychological impact of sexual harassment and available tools and support systems. A march was also organized on campus to raise awareness about gender equality, safety, and the importance of maintaining a secure environment.
The program concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Deepa Raj, with participation from faculty members, department heads, staff, and a large number of students from various departments. The event successfully reinforced the university’s commitment to creating a safe, respectful, and gender-sensitive campus environment.
