SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF WOMEN AT WORK PLACE-A SOCIO LEGAL CONCERN (BY-Pritirupa Saikia)
It can be said that though we have a
specific law to prohibit sexual Harassment at workplace apart from already
existing landmark guidelines of the supreme court of India but menace cannot be
controlled until and unless the mentality of males in general would not change.
Till the basic human dignity of women is not recognized and respected by men,
no law will be effective, it is important that constitutionally guaranteed
principles of equality among men and women do not remain only empty words and
should be upheld in practice. Besides physical, psychological and social
consequences of sexual harassment at work place, the disruption of economic
activities and the damage to the environment of work are other sufferings of
women. Sexual harassment violates a women’s right to job security and equal
opportunity. It can create working conditions that are hazardous to the
physical and psychological well-being of workers. It also creates a poisoned
work atmosphere that can disempowered and demoralize women workers. Thus
certain general principles remedies and sanctions should ensure that sexual
misconduct should be stopped and the victims must get proper financial
compensation and emotional injury should be mitigated. It should also act as a
deterrent to the harasser and the encouraging one for the employers to
introduce preventive measures.