Universities should be spaces of learning and growth, but for many students, particularly women and gender minorities, they can be sites of harassment and violence.
The UGC Mandate
The University Grants Commission mandates that every institution must have an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) under the Vishakha Guidelines and later the POSH Act. Yet compliance remains inconsistent.
Students often face retaliation for reporting, and the power dynamics between faculty and students complicate the process further.
Creating Safer Campuses
Effective solutions include mandatory orientation programs, anonymous reporting systems, active bystander training, and transparent investigation processes.