New Delhi: After a series of allegations that complaints of sexual harassment were apparently either brushed off or mishandled by the All India Radio (AIR), Union minister of woman and child development Maneka Gandhi has asked the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to conduct a probe.
According to the Indian Express, the development comes following a letter written by All India Radio Casual Announcer and Comperes Union (AICACU) last week. The casual employees claimed that when complaints of sexual harassment were made against permanent employees, some were transferred, while others were cleared. In most cases, which have been reported over the past few years, the women who filed the complaints were not given any further assignments, the Indian Express reported.
Also Read: #MeToo: India Today Executive Editor Gaurav Sawant Accused of Sexual Assault
In the letter sent to Gandhi, AICACU said “casual Announcers/Comperes/Radio Jockeys of AIR” found it difficult to “raise voice against any kind of suppression, harassment, injustice caused by the officials, as they always work under fear of losing the job. Female casual workers, who complain of sexual harassment are removed from the job and their witnesses whether males or females are also targeted the same way”.
In many cases, the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) that deals with sexual harassment complaints had members who reported to the permanent employees, raising questions about the committee’s independence.
According to the Indian Express, at least seven women said they were sexually harassed, mostly by station heads or directors. Four women did not want to be named and said they were subjected to lewd words, gestures and unwanted sexual advances.
Minister for women and child development Maneka Gandhi has ordered a probe into the allegations. Credit: Reuters
Of the other three women, Shanti Verma (43), a casual announcer for two decades at AIR Obra, said station head G.P. Nirala would rub against her and comment on her breasts. The ICC concluded that there were no instances of sexual harassment, after which Verma’s duty was cancelled.
Jyoti Pathania, 45, said she was not assigned any duty since August 20, 2016, when she was allegedly molested by station head Suresh Kumar. “I was in the dubbing room when the lights suddenly went off. My boss Suresh Kumar pulled up a chair near me, grabbed and kissed me. I froze. Once the lights came on, I started my recording in a state of shock and he left. I finally broke down crying when the woman, who was to relieve me from my duty, arrived,” Pathania told the Indian Express.
When she filed a police complaint and another formal complaint with AIR, an ICC was formed, but constituted people from her own station, all of whom reported to Kumar. After she refused to depose, another committee was formed in Jalandhar. “I had to bear the cost of travelling to Jalandhar thrice, until I finally refused to go anymore. Their report said that he is not guilty of sexual harassment. My duties have been stopped since then.”
Also Read: #MeToo: Assam Policewoman Accuses Senior IPS Officer of Sexual Harassment
Kumar, currently in AIR Hasimpur, said the matter was in court. “She has a problematic behaviour and is targeting an honest officer. She has no right to employment as being a casual employee her work is only on assignment basis,” he said.
Samta Jhudeley also said she had not been assigned any duty for over two years at AIR Sagar studio because she complained of mental harassment and intimidation by station director Alok Ray and three other men. “I wrote to I&B Ministry about it after which an ICC team was sent from Shahdol. They ruled there is no sexual harassment.” Ray, still with AIR Sagar said the allegations were found to be “fabricated”.
AICACU general secretary Shabnam Khanam said the women casual employees were not only sexually harassed but also had to lose their assignment. The issue had not been resolved despite the union sending several letters to Prasar Bharati and I&B ministry, she said.
Prasar Bharti CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati said it would difficult for him “to react unless we see the specific cases and have a factual summary of cases”.