Gender Relations and Dynamics of Internal Committee: Case Studies from Private and Public Institutions in South India

Abstract

The implementation of internal committee (IC) in three different institutions of Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, one Government institution and two private institutions are discussed throughout the study. The author looks at the perpetuation of gender discriminatory practices among the members of the committees. The dynamics and constitution of IC in Government and private offices are examined. It looks at the implementation of the IC through case studies done in private and Government offices in Coimbatore district. It also highlights the prevailing gaps in the IC constitution and implementation by the employees in the organizations. The response to sexual harassment in working place is not recognized because of patriarchal nature of the working environment. The chapter is concluded with the findings that men and women employees remain unaware of the provisions of the act and the employees are hesitant to register complaints in the working environment. The act places the responsibility on the employer to form an IC to function as a Redressal forum for working women. The Sexual Harassment Act 2013 mandates the constitution of IC committee by employer in the institution having more than 10 employees. The sexual harassment act 2013 has completed eight years and the implementation part is still challenging. So the current research was undertaken to study the challenges involved in the effective implementation of the complaints committee. Hence it is suggested to conduct a series of awareness programs about the IC powers and functions among employees at regular intervals in the institutions.

Citation

Kamalaveni, (2022), "Gender Relations and Dynamics of Internal Committee: Case Studies from Private and Public Institutions in South India", Aladuwaka, S., Wejnert, B. and Alagan, R. (Ed.) Systemic Inequality, Sustainability and COVID-19 (Research in Political Sociology, Vol. 29), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 109-125. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0895-993520220000029011