PaRCha - JNU - Letters to Administration - 2002 ID-65067
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llr"'l -..... .
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AKANKSHA UMAR .
For the post of Student Representative to GSCASH .
Dear Friends, .
The GSCASH is a body which came into existence in our campus on 8th March 1999 after a prolonged struggle by the JNU .
community for implementation of the guideline issued by the Supreme Court in Vishaka vs. State of Rajasthan case to deaJwith .
sexual harassment. From the very beginning the GSCASH was envisaged as ademocratic body by the student movement which is integrally rooted in the JNU community as opposed to any bureaucratic or administrative committee. As a result, when the GSCASHwas formed, It comprised of 15 members involving 2 elected student representatives (one woman), 2 elected teachers .
(one woman), 1 elected woman officer, 1 elected woman staff, 2 wardens (at least one woman), 1 representative each from .
JNUSU, JNUTA, JNUSA and JNUOA. 1eminent woman academician, 1 NGO and 1 counsellor. .
.
The functioning of the GSCASH is based on its Rules and Procedures which are rooted in the principles of democracy, .
transparency and accountability. Many sensitization programmes and activities are outlined in the Rules Itself, for instance: .
Publicising JNU's Policy Against Sexual Harassment widely in JNU..
.
Publicisingthe names and contact details of all GSCASH members prominently in JNU. .
.
.
Undertaking gender sensitization programmes through seminars, posters, workshops, films, debates, skits etc. .
Undertaking at least one major sensitization programme per semester which involves large participation of the JNU .
.
community. .
.
Forminga volunteers group at the beginning of each semester who are equipped through training workshops to assist the .
GSCASH insensitization and crisis management. .
Holding at least two public meetings a year to report to the university community of its activities, with at least one meeting .
for thepurpose of presenting its annual report. .
Devising prompt, effective and gender sensitive ways of crisis management along with the JNU security services, etc. .
.
.
Beside the function of gender sensrtization, the GSCASH also deals with complaints of sexual harassment with a commitment to .
deliver speedyjustice in asensitive manner. After an initial screening of any complaint by the Complaints Screening Committee to .
detennine whether a case merits further enquiry, the GSCASH must complete the enquiry proceedings within a maximum time .
.
limit of three months. The JNU Administration is also mandated to initiate action on the recommendations of the GSCASH wtthin a .
month. .
Unfortunately, manyfunctions envisaged within the Rules and Pro~edures of the GSCASH (see JNU website) ar~ not being put to .
.
.
practice. I sincerely believe that the need of the hour for all of-us is to first implement the GSCASH Rules and Procedures fully in .
letter and spirit. .
.
Over.the last one year, cases of sexual harassment by outsiders, instances of gender insensitivity during cultural programmes and .
functions, passing comments on girl students etc. have been on the rise in our campus. I propose to co-ordinate with SFC .
members, Hostel Presidents, JNUSU representatives and JNU security to ensure that some proactive ways are devised to prevent .
such incidents from happening in JNU. .
A heinous crime of the rape of a 5 year old girl also occurred in our university last year. Both she and her family have faced .
I.
j hurdles in their struggle for justice, especially recently when in an outrageous incident the legal counsel of the Delhi Commission .
.Q .
for Women beat the child within the premises of DCW. 1believe that the GSCASH as an institution must also put itsweight behind .
.su .
the victim'sstruggle for justice and provide legal and counselling support to both the victim and her parents. .
:fi.
j The recent protests in Delhi University led by the students of IP College against sexual harassment and police/administrative I ap~y. or the recent rape and murder of a Doctor in the ESIC hospital in "Delhi expose the extent of gender insensitivity and hostility existing in other institutions towards sexual harassment and crimes against women. JNU undoubtedly provides all of us ·~·environment. However, the struggle for gender.justice is far from over In our university and ensuring the vibrant .
with a.
functiomng of the GSCASH is but one step towards this goal. .
.
I appeal to all the students of JNU for their support in the forthcoming elections so that together we can all strive to build a more .
vibrant and effective GSCASH. .
FOR A VIBRANT AND ~EFFECTIVE GSCASH .
Sd/-Akanksha Kumar .
i.
j .
.
.
PaRCha - JNU - Letters to Administration - 2002 ID-65067
.
, .
.........
.
llr"'l -..... .
e .
AKANKSHA UMAR .
For the post of Student Representative to GSCASH .
Dear Friends, .
The GSCASH is a body which came into existence in our campus on 8th March 1999 after a prolonged struggle by the JNU .
community for implementation of the guideline issued by the Supreme Court in Vishaka vs. State of Rajasthan case to deaJwith .
sexual harassment. From the very beginning the GSCASH was envisaged as ademocratic body by the student movement which is integrally rooted in the JNU community as opposed to any bureaucratic or administrative committee. As a result, when the GSCASHwas formed, It comprised of 15 members involving 2 elected student representatives (one woman), 2 elected teachers .
(one woman), 1 elected woman officer, 1 elected woman staff, 2 wardens (at least one woman), 1 representative each from .
JNUSU, JNUTA, JNUSA and JNUOA. 1eminent woman academician, 1 NGO and 1 counsellor. .
.
The functioning of the GSCASH is based on its Rules and Procedures which are rooted in the principles of democracy, .
transparency and accountability. Many sensitization programmes and activities are outlined in the Rules Itself, for instance: .
Publicising JNU's Policy Against Sexual Harassment widely in JNU..
.
Publicisingthe names and contact details of all GSCASH members prominently in JNU. .
.
.
Undertaking gender sensitization programmes through seminars, posters, workshops, films, debates, skits etc. .
Undertaking at least one major sensitization programme per semester which involves large participation of the JNU .
.
community. .
.
Forminga volunteers group at the beginning of each semester who are equipped through training workshops to assist the .
GSCASH insensitization and crisis management. .
Holding at least two public meetings a year to report to the university community of its activities, with at least one meeting .
for thepurpose of presenting its annual report. .
Devising prompt, effective and gender sensitive ways of crisis management along with the JNU security services, etc. .
.
.
Beside the function of gender sensrtization, the GSCASH also deals with complaints of sexual harassment with a commitment to .
deliver speedyjustice in asensitive manner. After an initial screening of any complaint by the Complaints Screening Committee to .
detennine whether a case merits further enquiry, the GSCASH must complete the enquiry proceedings within a maximum time .
.
limit of three months. The JNU Administration is also mandated to initiate action on the recommendations of the GSCASH wtthin a .
month. .
Unfortunately, manyfunctions envisaged within the Rules and Pro~edures of the GSCASH (see JNU website) ar~ not being put to .
.
.
practice. I sincerely believe that the need of the hour for all of-us is to first implement the GSCASH Rules and Procedures fully in .
letter and spirit. .
.
Over.the last one year, cases of sexual harassment by outsiders, instances of gender insensitivity during cultural programmes and .
functions, passing comments on girl students etc. have been on the rise in our campus. I propose to co-ordinate with SFC .
members, Hostel Presidents, JNUSU representatives and JNU security to ensure that some proactive ways are devised to prevent .
such incidents from happening in JNU. .
A heinous crime of the rape of a 5 year old girl also occurred in our university last year. Both she and her family have faced .
I.
j hurdles in their struggle for justice, especially recently when in an outrageous incident the legal counsel of the Delhi Commission .
.Q .
for Women beat the child within the premises of DCW. 1believe that the GSCASH as an institution must also put itsweight behind .
.su .
the victim'sstruggle for justice and provide legal and counselling support to both the victim and her parents. .
:fi.
j The recent protests in Delhi University led by the students of IP College against sexual harassment and police/administrative I ap~y. or the recent rape and murder of a Doctor in the ESIC hospital in "Delhi expose the extent of gender insensitivity and hostility existing in other institutions towards sexual harassment and crimes against women. JNU undoubtedly provides all of us ·~·environment. However, the struggle for gender.justice is far from over In our university and ensuring the vibrant .
with a.
functiomng of the GSCASH is but one step towards this goal. .
.
I appeal to all the students of JNU for their support in the forthcoming elections so that together we can all strive to build a more .
vibrant and effective GSCASH. .
FOR A VIBRANT AND ~EFFECTIVE GSCASH .
Sd/-Akanksha Kumar .
i.
j .
.
.