Over 25 presenters had complained in March for being discriminated against work allocation and salaries and also alleged that they have been subjected to sexual innuendos and advances for the last two years. The RJs, under the aegis of the AIR Broadcasting Professionals Association (AIRBPA), had complained to the I&B ministry and the Delhi Commission for Women prompting an internal inquiry by Prasar Bharati and a ministerial probe to look into allegations of workplace harassment. A PIL was also been filed in the Delhi High Court with hearing slated for May.
According to the order issued on Monday with the approval of the Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar, duty officers N K Verma and Shelly have been removed from their duties with immediate effect and banned from further employment in the pubcaster, while programme executive Danish Iqbal, who played a supervisory role in the administration and assignments of FM Gold, has been suspended to prevent his influencing the ongoing inquiry. Station director of Delhi Kendra L S Bajpai has been issued a show-cause notice for appearing to have not taken any effective action when informed of these "lapses". (Source: Two All India Radio officials sacked for sexually harassing radio jockeys by Himanshi Dhawan, TNN, Apr 17, 2013)
According to ILO, sexual harassment also falls under the ambit of Workplace Violence. Such strong actions by organization will send a tough message to all those who engage or encourage such sexual misdemeanors of an employee towards other employee or employees.
Indian parliament in March this year passed the ‘The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Bill’. Although the law has come after a long delay but sometimes it is better late than never! Under the new law -- which also covers students in schools and colleges, patients in hospitals, maids in private residences and agricultural labourers -- employers have to set up grievance committees to investigate all complaints. Employers who fail to comply will be fined up to 50,000 rupees. Repeated violations may lead to higher penalties and cancellation of licence or registration to conduct business.
Organizations need to take a leaf out of this incident. If such a thing can happen in a premier Media Centre in India, then it can just happen anywhere! As much the perpetrators of such crime, the one who ignore the complaints and encourage such acts are equally deplorable. The latter must also bear the brunt for their ignorance or inaction that further prompted such acts. Zero tolerance for such 'sick minds' at workplaces can alone provide a healthy and engaging work environment for the rest of the employees. Inaction as well as late action only contributes to mental anguish of the victims and erodes engagement fast like nothing else.
Here’s wishing a miserable life for all those who sexually abused the women RJs at All India Radio (AIR)! May the law weigh on you heavy!
No comments:
Post a Comment