Kerala lags behind

Sir, - A two-day seminar (July 12-13), organised by a Bombay- based human rights organisation on sexual harassment of women at work place, has highlighted the fact that as many as nine States are yet to amend their civil services rules, prohibiting sexual harassment and providing for punishment of offenders, as directed by the Supreme Court in 1997. Shockingly enough, Kerala is one of these States.

Of a total of 12 itemised guidelines and directives issued by the Court, two are most relevant with regard to the point of governmental inaction. (a) ``The Rules/Regulations of Government and Public Sector bodies related to conduct and discipline should include rules/regulations prohibiting sexual harassment and provide for appropriate penalties in such rules against the offender.'' And, (b) ``the Central/State Governments are requested to consider adopting suitable measures, including legislation, to ensure that the guidelines laid down by this order are also observed by the employers in private sector.''

The supposedly progressive State of Kerala is conspicuously remiss in not having complied with the two directives.We call upon the A.K. Antony Government to immediately take suitable steps.

C. Antony Louis,

Mumbai

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Section  : Opinion
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