Latest news with #ICCs
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Pinjra Tod rose and fell, but women students still seek complete freedom
Natasha Narwal is hard to reach. Those who were fellow student activists less than a decade ago have moved on to their careers and have lost touch with her. A well-known activist said Ms. Narwal could be contacted only on Signal, known to be a highly secure messaging app. She sent across her number on Signal but deleted it and said, 'I can't see a way to share her contact here. I will give you Natasha's roommate's number and she can put you in touch with her.' Eventually, the efforts to reach Natasha weren't successful. Natasha Narwal was in jail for more than a year a couple of years ago in connection with the CAA-NRC protests. And that possibly explains her media weariness. Natasha, however, cut her teeth in activism with a more everyday cause -- discriminatory practices in girls students hostels. Break the cage was a call to female hostel occupants, who faced the brunt of curfew timings, moral policing, and more. Natasha Narwal and her comrades also pushed for the implementation of UGC Regulations 2015 on prevention, prohibition and redressal of sexual harassment of women employees and students in higher educational institutions, issued on May, 2, 2016. As per these regulations, they demanded functional internal sexual harassment complaints committee cells (ICCs) with democratically elected student representatives. The movement also demanded infrastructure such as street lights and safe public transport around campus areas. They organised marches where hundreds of women turned up. A notable one was on October 3, 2016, in Delhi. The march began from LSR, through Kailash Colony, Amar Colony, and National Park — areas full of PGs in which a large number of women students from colleges such as Gargi, Kamla Nehru, Deen Dayal, and Deshbandhu lived. The idea behind the protests in Delhi colleges soon inspired similar campaigns elsewhere. In December 2016, women students of Sree Keralavarma College, Thrissur, Kerala, started an indefinite sit-in strike, outside the locked gates of their women's hostel, against the 4 p.m. curfew, forcing the administration to give an assurance that the timing would be extended. Women students had classes till 3.30 p.m., which meant that immediately after their classes were over, they had to rush to the hostel. This was also a hostel where women were not allowed to possess mobile phones. In January 2018, Pinjra Tod started an online petition that would be submitted to Union Minister of Human Resource Development Prakash Javadekar, urging him to 'immediately remove patriarchal and unconstitutional curfew from all women's hostels'. At this point in time, the movement had made some headway with institutions like Mumbai University, BITS Pilani, and IIT-Roorkee that had done away with curfews. The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) issued notices to seven universities and colleges in December 2016 for discrimination in hostel timings for boys and girls. The move came after Pinjra Tod compiled a report on discriminatory rules and living circumstances in hostel accommodations and complained before the commission. In 2018, a group of Panjab University students protested for 48 days, demanding round-the-clock freedom of movement for female hostel residents. They rejected the university's initial proposal to allow limited late-night movement between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. with conditions like logging entries and submitting applications after 11 p.m. The university eventually agreed to allow unrestricted movement, with the only condition being that students exiting hostels after 11 p.m. must log their details in a register. Till date, it stays the same. The Pinjra Tod campaign did bring to the spotlight important issues even if its achievements were not commensurate with the high profile nature of the campaign. The social ideas that the campaign battled have shown resilience in the Indian education system. Today, we see technology behind leveraged to advance those impulses. For instance, biometric tools are being used to monitor and curb women's movement and physical and mental space.
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Internal probe panels missing in several TN government colleges amid rise in harassment complaints across country
MADURAI: Amid increasing complaints of sexual harassment of women in workplaces and educational institutions across the country, at least 46 of the 180 government arts and science colleges in Tamil Nadu have failed to set up an 'Internal Complaints Committee (ICC)', which is mandatory under the POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace) Act of 2013. As per the law designed to protect women from sexual harassment, all workplaces, both public and private, must establish ICCs to address complaints and take steps to prevent sexual harassment of women. Of the 193 institutes (13 state-run universities and 180 government colleges) to which RTI queries were sent on the working of 'Vishaka Committees', only 80 colleges have sent their replies. Thirty-four colleges said they have ICC panels, but only nine of them shared details about these committees. None of the government universities responded to the RTI query. The state government, in September 2024, had directed all higher education institutions to ensure compliance with the POSH Act, and take proactive measures to tackle drug menace on campuses, but the RTI reply revealed that colleges have failed to comply with the order. When contacted by TNIE, P Shankar, Principal Secretary of Tamil Nadu Higher Education Department, said that it is mandatory to form ICC in educational institutions, and promised to take necessary steps to ensure compliance.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Govt seeks compliance from edu institutes on ICC
Bhubaneswar: In view of the self-immolation attempt by a 20-year-old student over alleged sexual harassment at a college in Balasore district on Saturday, state govt on Monday asked heads of all higher education institutes to submit compliance reports on instructions related to internal complaints committee (ICC) under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, within 24 hours. The higher education department, in an urgent letter, asked the colleges and universities to include appropriate representation of women members and external representatives in the committees. They were also instructed to follow UGC (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of Sexual Harassment of Women Employees and Students in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2015. The department asked the institutes to display the name and contact number of all ICC members in a proper place for general awareness and upload their details in the higher education information management system (HIMS) portal. The govt also directed the institutes to immediately organise workshops on the Act for the sensitisation of students and faculty members. "You are further requested to ensure that a geo-tagged photograph of the location where the details of the ICC are displayed is uploaded to the link positively," wrote Rajata Kumar Mansingh, deputy director of higher education. The department earlier communicated to all colleges and universities about the constitution of ICC. Some colleges do not have ICCs, and some have not formed them as per UGC rules. University Grants Commission (UGC) has been issuing guidelines to all universities and colleges to set up ICCs and take necessary steps to prevent and redress sexual harassment on their campuses. UGC also asked all universities to set up special cells to deal with issues of gender-based violence and conduct gender sensitisation programmes. It suggested the institutes ensure a safe and healthy environment for women students and employees on their campuses as a necessary precondition to quality education and research. Last year, a student of a city-based university lodged a complaint against a faculty member for sexual harassment. The university investigated the matter and suspended the faculty member.
Scoop
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
World Champions In Our Backyard: Underwater Hockey Stars Set For Asia-Pacific Showdown
New Zealand's underwater hockey athletes are quietly leading the world in a sport few people know even exists. At the 2024 CMAS Age Group Underwater Hockey World Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Kiwi youth teams claimed three gold medals and a bronze, outperforming traditional sporting powerhouses. Next month, New Zealand's top players return to Malaysia for the Asia/Oceania Intercontinental Championships (ICCs) — a key qualifier for the 2026 World Championships — and a chance to reaffirm our place at the top of this remarkable global sport. Why It's Not Just Another Sport Underwater hockey is like nothing else in the pool — or out of it. It's: Played on the bottom of the pool, using short sticks and a lead puck A four-dimensional game: players navigate left–right, up–down, and must manage time underwater on a single breath Silent and strategic: once submerged, players communicate entirely through movement and positioning Self-substituted: athletes sub themselves in and out every 20–30 seconds, creating a constantly rotating, fast-flowing rhythm Visually striking and physically demanding — yet gentle on joints and accessible to all fitness levels A Sport for All Kinds of Players What makes underwater hockey one of Aotearoa's most inclusive sports? Body type doesn't matter: agility, awareness, and timing win over size or brute strength Men and women often train and play together, especially at grassroots and club level It's low impact and high intensity, offering full-body fitness without the pounding of traditional contact sports And it builds deep team trust through non-verbal coordination and shared effort Whether you're a competitive swimmer, ex-water polo player or just someone looking to be part of a positive, tight-knit sporting community, there's a place for you here. Auckland's World-Class Talent Pipeline Four elite Kiwi teams — Elite Men, Elite Women, Masters Men, and Masters Women — will represent New Zealand in Malaysia this August, competing against top-tier opponents from Australia, Singapore, China, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Many of these athletes come from Auckland's powerhouse clubs — Glen Innes Joes, Ninjas of Vancouver, and Pakuranga Sharks — and schools including Mahurangi College, MAGS, Epsom Girls' Grammar, Glendowie College, Diocesan, and Howick College. 'This is a sport that rewards grit, strategy, and timing — all things Kiwis excel at,' says Emma Rae, Elite Men's Head Coach. 'We're not just competitive; we're leading the world. It's time more New Zealanders knew.' 'It still feels surreal to be 19 and about to represent New Zealand at the Elite level for the second time,' says Phoebe Ata, a 2025 Elite Women's player from GI Joes and Howick College alumna. 'It all started with a love of swimming and the water — and a community that's encouraged me every step of the way.' Under the Radar — But Growing Fast Despite world-class results, underwater hockey remains one of New Zealand's best-kept sporting secrets. Players and clubs work hard to access pool time and build visibility, but the passion and participation are growing fast. 'Underwater hockey isn't just a game — it's a whānau,' says Logan Stevenson, President of Auckland Underwater Hockey. 'It's inclusive, fun, and incredibly rewarding. Once you try it, you're hooked.' About Underwater Hockey Invented in the 1950s in the UK, underwater hockey (also known as Octopush) is now played in over 20 countries, with regular world championships across youth, elite, and masters levels. New Zealand is one of the top-performing nations globally, with a strong grassroots system and a growing youth development pipeline.
Indian Express
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Advocates not employees of Bar Councils; complaints committee under PoSH Act not applicable: Bombay HC
The Bombay High Court on Monday observed that neither the Bar Council of India (BCI) nor Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa (BCMG) are employers of advocates. The court said that Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (PoSH Act) applies when employer-employee relationship exists. Therefore, provisions related to formation of Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) are not applicable to advocates. 'However, the same would apply in so far as it pertains to employees of the BCI as well as BCMG,' the HC noted. It added that the women advocates can raise their grievances, including complaints of sexual harassment under Section 35 of the Advocates Act, 1961 which prescribes punishment for professional as well as other misconduct by lawyers. A bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep V Marne disposed of PIL filed in 2017 by the UNS Women Legal Association, which sought formation of permanent grievance redressal mechanism to redress sexual harassment complaints against advocates. Senior advocate Milind Sathe representing BCMG stated that local committees have been formed under Section 6 of the PoSH Act across all districts led by District Magistrates or Collectors. Sathe also submitted that Section 35 of the 1961 law provides any person including woman advocate to lodge complaint before the state bar council for misconduct, including acts of sexual harassment. Advocate Shekhar Jagtap for BCI also submitted that it has formed panels under the law. 'It is evident that the provisions of the Act apply to a case of an employer which presupposes that there has to be an employer and employee relationship. Neither BCI nor BCMG is an employer of advocates. Therefore, the provisions of the 2013 Act do not apply in so far as it pertains to advocates,' the HC noted. 'However, the same would apply insofar as it pertains to employees of the BCI and BCMG. In view of aforesaid, no further orders are required to be passed in the PIL and the same is disposed of,' the court held.
