Bangalore is on the global map for its growth in the IT sector. However, there is a dark side to this city too, with 1,038 cases of sexual harassment filed in the past five months.
All cases pertaining to sexual harassment have been filed before the State Women's Commission and its Chairperson Pramila Nesargi told rediff.com that the number is only growing by the day.
While 783 cases have emerged from private firms, 245 are from government offices and the remaining 10 from educational institutions, according to statistics.
Most cases are from the BPO sector and multinational banks. Pramila says that most cases that arise from the government offices pertain to verbal abuse.
She says that some of the cases from private firms are severe in nature and the commission would deal with it with an iron hand.
It is being stated that the number of cases have gone up considerably thanks to the night shift culture that has entered Bangalore.
Late working hours, especially in the BPO sector, are considered as the main cause for such cases rising.
The commission is planning surprise checks at BPOs and other offices from where there are numerous complaints.
The commission as of now has issued notices to the respondents and hearing on all these cases will be taken up on priority.
Pramila says that in many cases respondents are let off with a warning as they have come forward and apologised.
The commission would, however, have a tough time in sorting out the genuine complaints from the fake.
There have been several complaints that have been filed only to take revenge against the boss.
In such cases, we have reprimanded the complainant, Pramila added.
How do you deal with it: An intra office mechanism in every office is necessary to deal with cases of sexual harassment.
The Vishakha judgment based itself not only on Articles 14 and 21 (equality and right to life) of the Constitution, but also Article 19(1) -- the right to practice any profession or to carry on any occupation, trade or business.