KOTTAYAM: The MG University has not yet formed Gender Sensitisation Committee Against Sexual Harassment (GSCASH) mandated by the University Grants Commission (UGC) many years back.
The UGC had in a letter dated January 27, 2015, reminded colleges that they should have a separate cell to deal with issues of gender-based violence and to conduct sensitisation programmes.
The cells are supposed to evaluate, assist and support educational institutions to implement zero-tolerance policy on campuses with a view to ‘eliminate cultures of impunity and cultures of silence and complicity’.
The MG University right now has only a cell to deal with the sexual harassment against women constituted in 2001. “Many students do not know about its existence. We demand constitution of the GSCASH,” a girl student told DC on condition of anonymity.
Recently at a meeting conducted at the university, vice-chancellor Dr Babu Sebastian had assured the students its constitution.
According to the UGC, GSCASH has three major functions: gender sensitisation and orientation, crisis management and mediation, and formal enquiry and redressal.
