Chennai Schools’ #MeToo Movement Demands Better Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy

Written By: Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin

June 15, 2021

Highlights

Many students from across various schools in Chennai have come forward with allegations of sexual harassment at the hands of the staff.
As parents, we need to create a safe environment and non-judgmental spaces for our children at home where they feel free to discuss any small or big issues with us without any hesitation or fear.
Unless we openly discuss topics of sex and make our children feel comfortable in their bodies and help them set boundaries, we cannot expect others to be proactive.
The first step has to be taken as parents where we believe and trust our children’s experiences, question abusers and bring them to task and help the children to deal and heal from their traumas so that it does not affect them mentally and do damage to their self-esteem.

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In what can be called as a student’s #metoo movement, a number of Chennai schools came under the radar recently after students from a leading school complained of sexual harassment. Soon many students from across various schools in Chennai have come forward with allegations of sexual harassment at the hands of the staff.

What began as a call out on twitter for casteist statements made by standup comedians in their shows, gathered traction on the social media platform. This escalated quickly with attention turning to educational institutions that are known to be caste exclusive. One of them, Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan (PSBB), a well known school in Chennai, was being mentioned for its casteist nature when the conversation suddenly took a turn with allegations of child sexual abuse and sexual harassment by a teacher came to light through an Instagram handle. These were made by both former and present students.

This resulted in the arrest of the accused teacher G Rajagopalan, under several sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act by the Chennai police.

A revelation and outpour like this gave courage to many other students (old and current) to come out with their experiences of similar stories in their educational institutions. Students of Chettinad Vidyashram, opened up on Instagram about instances of sexual harassment and sexist behaviour, mainly involving three teachers. Student accounts of other physical violations like hitting, intimidation, and harassment within and outside the classroom also were being spoken about.

The alumni of Kendriya Vidyalaya, CLRI, also complained about a language teacher who had sexually abused and misbehaved with them.

Another horrifying incident of a school named Sushil Hari International Residential School, which was being run by a self-styled Godman Siva Shankar Baba also made news this week. The allegations range from molestation, sexual abuse, intoxicating minors with alcohol, showing pornography to minors and even rape. He had declared himself as saying he was “Lord Krishna” and the girl students were his Gopikas. The Baba, bunked the Tamil Nadu Commission for Protection of Child Rights (TNCPCR) hearing saying he had suffered a heart attack. The case has been transferred to Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID).

sexual harassment by Siva Shankar Baba — Siva Shankar Baba

The Tamil Nadu Commission for Protection of Child Rights (TNCPCR) has summoned representatives from various schools regarding all allegations and the investigations are ongoing. Six schools in the city including three private CBSE schools, one Central government school, one Anglo-Indian school and one international school, are currently under the radar.

How did it come so far?

How did these incidents go unreported you may ask? The most worrying fact is that many students had raised complaints about the staff on several incidents about the inappropriate behavior but their complaints were either ignored or invalidated.

They were told to be ‘overreacting’ and that they misunderstood and made to feel guilty instead. In some incidents the staff member was let off with a warning and continued to teach.

Why is it a matter of shame for schools?

The fact that the schools have not been proactive on the complaints of students brings to light the importance such incidents have on the priority list of the management and school authorities.

The fact that students’ well-being and safety was not the utmost priority and that they have been exposed to such brutality time and again over the decades shows how we as a society have failed to create safe spaces for our children at home or at school.

The fact that there is a lack of apathy towards the suffrage and the effect on long term mental health of the students reflects how we are willing to sabotage the students well being for the sake of reputation and better name of the school.

While we wish more power to the students for finding the courage to speak up even after years of these incidents, we also need now a better system in place in educational institutions and even the society at large where our children are protected and safe from such perpetrators, where they are able to differentiate and call out the wrong doers and a space free of judgment where they can heal.

What are the steps that need to be taken?

Educational institutions must have an inclusive harassment prevention policy. The solution to students #MeToo pandemic lies within the premises of educational institutions which can be achieved by addressing it from the root, says AWARE India an NGO, working on Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse. Recently they came up with a 6-point strategy which should be mandated in the inclusive policy.

The proposal of “Inclusive Harassment Prevention Policy” demands:

STEP 1: Formulate an inclusive policy for children, teaching and non-teaching staff bringing together

STEP 2: Set up an independent, effective Internal Committee Board (ICB)

STEP 3: Appoint a CPP sensitized child counselor effective immediately and failure to do so must amount to punishable offence by law.

STEP 4: Monitoring & audit by child welfare officers or child protection agencies every quarterly

STEP 5: Existing staff or recruitment of any faculty member into an educational institution must be subjected to rigorous background investigation

STEP 6: Mandate child abuse prevention and gender sensitization sessions in all educational institutions.

These 6 points are the basic framework around which a comprehensive policy will be drafted after gathering extensive feedback and suggestions from all stakeholders. You can read the detailed mandate and sign the petition here.

The NGO further states that the issue can be solved by addressing 2 systemic problems, which are:

(a) Change MUST originate from redefining ‘School Culture’ where student safety is paramount. As directed by the Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, every educational institution must sanction Child Protection Policy (CPP). Members of the organization should include the institute’s board, administrators, teachers, other school board employees, school volunteers, parents, state agencies, law enforcement, and Students.

(b) Institutions should look beyond Good touch-bad touch and inculcate a comprehensive understanding of child sexual abuse. Institutions as a workplace formulate new channels to identify and address patterns and behaviors often associated with adult misconduct. Therefore, necessitating the implementation of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment at workplace (POSH) Act, 2013.

Having said that, as parents we need to create a safe environment and non-judgmental spaces for our children at home where they feel free to discuss any small or big issues with us without any hesitation or fear.

Unless we openly discuss topics of sex and make our children feel comfortable in their bodies and help them set boundaries, we cannot expect others to be proactive. The first step has to be taken as parents where we believe and trust our children’s experiences, question abusers and bring them to task and help the children to deal and heal from their traumas so that it does not affect them mentally and do damage to their self-esteem.

chennai schools mental health metoo PSBB sexual abuse sexual harassment student harassment trauma

Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin

Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin has done her masters in Journalism & Communication and has worked as a senior journalist, editor and columnist for leading publications like The Logical Indian, Deccan Chronicle, Worldwide Media Corporation, The Bridge and Provoke.
With Infano, she hopes to create more awareness about women’s health issues. Suffering with Fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition, she has also been advocating for its awareness through media.

Why Women Need Financial Independence?

Written By: Sonali

June 25, 2021 | 04:16 PM |

514

Highlights

Why Women Need Financial Independence?
Why think of financial independence?
Consequences of not being financially independent.
What happens when women become financially independent?
Ways to become a financially independent woman.

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The COVID-19 pandemic struck the world when it was least prepared for. Ever since its inception, it has been a challenge to deal with. This situation has been an eyeopener in making us realise the importance of financial independence and financial security for both He and She. Especially for women, it turned out to be more difficult. But the question is why is it so much more important for women!!

Well, financial independence is a great way of giving women the authority to actually think good for themselves and act accordingly. Women don’t need to be working in MNC’s or Government offices to label themselves as financially independent. They could be doing a variety of other things ranging from daily wage workers (for women coming from low-income families) to running a tiffin business from home (for middle-class women having little education).

According to the United Nations Global Compact study, it is shocking to see that with the advancements in the economy, female labour participation in India decreased from 34 % in 2016 to 24.8 % in 2020. Only if India raises the participation of women to the level that men do then it will increase the nation’s GDP by 27 per cent. Thereby placing India in a good position in the global economy.

There are a variety of reasons supporting the idea of financial independence for women. Read to know more in depth!

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The COVID-19 pandemic struck the world when it was least prepared for. Ever since its inception, it has been a challenge to deal with. Things around us have become uncertain and prone to losses. When I look at this, I realise that the pandemic not just aimed at taking away lives but has shattered people to their core by taking away their livelihoods as well.

This situation has been an eyeopener in making us realise the importance of financial independence and financial security for both He and She. Especially for women, it turned out to be more difficult. But the question is why is it so much more important for women!!

Why think of financial independence?

We often hear the term ‘Women Empowerment’, but only a handful of people can decode the term. Empowerment means giving someone the ability to control their life and claim their rights. Therefore, the term emphasises giving women the power and ability to control their lives.

Financial independence is a great way of doing the same. It gives women the authority to actually think good for themselves and act accordingly.

Women don’t need to be working in MNC’s or Government offices to label themselves as financially independent. They could be doing a variety of other things ranging from daily wage workers (for women coming from low-income families) to running a tiffin business from home (for middle-class women having little education).

Consequences of not being financially independent

Humans automatically take control of the steering of their lives when they start to earn. Women are no different.

Financial independence becomes more important for women who live in abusive households. Reports suggest that 70% of women in India face some form of domestic violence. Still, they continue to live with their abuser as they lack financial independence; the situation would be completely different only if they had the monetary resources in their hand.

What happens when women become financially independent?

Studies show that when a woman earns, she invests 90% of her earnings into their families compared to only 30% to 40% for a man.

According to the United Nations Global Compact study, it is shocking to see that with the advancements in the economy, female labour participation in India decreased from 34 % in 2016 to 24.8 % in 2020. It also reports that out of the 153 countries that were part of the study, India is the only country where the economic gender gap is wider than the political gap.

Only if India raises the participation of women to the level that men do then it will increase the nation’s GDP by 27 per cent. Thereby placing India in a good position in the global economy.

There are a variety of reasons supporting the idea of financial independence for women. A few of them are discussed below:

Enhance their self-worth

The power of liberty increases one’s self-worth; in a country like India, financial independence is of prime importance for Indian women where gender equality is asymmetrical. A significant proportion of Indian women are dependent on their spouses, making it an arduous task for them to walk out of an abusive marriage. Earning money instils within them the power to make a strong decision when it comes to their life.

Support the family

There is a lot of pressure on the sole breadwinner of any family, which in most cases is the husband. When the only earning member in the family is the husband, there is a lot of pressure on them. Given the unpredictable situation of jobs in the country, pink slips are no longer a surprise.

The COVID-19 situation has further accelerated this problem. While people argue over the fact that women don’t need to work as their husbands, fathers, or brothers earn; extra income does not really harm. Especially in such delicate times, it would be a lot of help.

Facing emergency situations

In life, everything does not go as per plan. We need to be prepared for any kind of unexpected turn of events. When there is an extra earning member in the family, there is a comfort in dealing with such situations.

Sadly, the middle-class family survives from paycheque to paycheque, and such situations are not welcomed in such houses. If there is one more earning member in the family, it eradicates this problem as the extra money can be kept aside for emergencies.

Become a role model

Whenever we talk about women in leadership, very few names pop up in our minds. Ever wondered why?

The harsh truth is we don’t have many female leaders. A single woman’s financial independence can act as a source of inspiration for all those women who are willing to do something but hesitate to take a step forward. Your progress chart will become directly proportional to the success rate of many other women who look up to you. A financially independent woman has the power to motivate and shape the lives of millions of women. You don’t realise, but that’s a big responsibility!

Ways to become a financially independent woman

Effective financial planning:

Determining real and achievable financial goals is the secret spice of being efficiently financially independent. Setting practical goals helps you to be in control of your income, investments and expenses.

Use personalised financial plan:

Choosing a plan just because it worked out great for your friend would be the last mistake you want to commit while choosing a financial plan. It is so because the same plan could do you more harm than reaping profits. Personalisation is the key to successful financial planning.

Select plans keeping in account your financial goals and needs.

Plan for the unexpected:

I have already talked a lot about how important it is to have an extra source of income in moments of crisis. Even a woman should be ready to deal with any unexpected events.

Aim at securing the future:

You don’t just earn for fun, do you?

Once you start earning, you have certain responsibilities on your shoulder. As a working woman, it should be your major concern that your family goes through little or no financial stress in your absence as well. Begin to invest in insurance plans, mutual funds etc., as it will support financial continuity.

Financial independence is important for each one of us, irrespective of our age and marital status. It is high time people must comprehend that the financial independence of a woman or a working woman does not harm the reputation of the family. It is perfectly okay for a family to run on the income of a woman.

We live in the 21st era where we talk about equality. But this debate has no end if we fail to perceive the importance of women being financially independent. Even today, situations are highly uncertain for a woman in society. The majority of the times, she does not get a say in her significant life-changing decisions. She has to face a lot of problems and criticisms. Financial security gives her the power to think and take a stand for herself. It makes her believe her own instincts and complete her journey.

Infano supports every woman out there to take a step towards her success. Do not forget to read our #PassionToProfession column for all those inspiring stories of women who are disrupting the business and entrepreneurial system!

Business Empowerment Finance financial independence women empowerment

Sonali

A 'non-9-5 desk job' ambivert geek who chooses her own audience, Sonali loves sharing stories and finding the corners where humanity still exists! She believes that every individual's story is unique and special. She loves writing about the untouched and unspoken segments of society. When not writing, you can find her listening to someone's stories or playing with dogs. Sonali values mental health and encourages people to speak their heart out!