Bharata Kalanjali’s Internal Committee (IC)

 

Bharata Kalanjali is committed to providing a safe and healthy work environment that enables its staff, teachers and students to work without fear of prejudice, gender bias and sexual harassment. We believe that all our employees, staff and students have the right to be treated with dignity. Sexual harassment at the workplace or other than work if involving our employees or students, is a grave offense and is, therefore punishable. Bharata Kalanjali will operate a zero tolerance policy for any form of sexual harassment in the workplace. All complaints of sexual harassment will be taken seriously and treated with respect and in confidence.

 

Definition of Sexual Harassment
  • Sexual harassment is unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature which makes a person feel offended, humiliated and/or intimidated. It includes situations where a person is asked to engage in sexual activity as a condition of that person’s employment, as well as situations which create an environment which is hostile, intimidating or humiliating for the recipient.
  • Sexual harassment can involve one or more incidents and actions constituting harassment may be physical, verbal and non-verbal.

 

Examples of conduct or behaviour which constitute sexual harassment include, but are not limited to:
a. Physical conduct:
  • Unwelcome physical contact including patting, pinching, stroking, kissing, hugging, fondling, or inappropriate touching
  • Physical violence, including sexual assault
  • Physical contact, e.g. touching, pinching
  • The use of job-related threats or rewards to solicit sexual favours
b. Verbal Conduct:
  • The use of job-related threats or rewards to solicit sexual favours
  • Comments on a worker’s body, appearance, age, private life, etc.
  • Sexual comments, stories and jokes
  • Sexual advances
  • Repeated and unwanted social invitations for dates or physical intimacy
  • Insults based on the sex of the worker
  • Condescending or paternalistic remarks
  • Sending sexually explicit messages (by phone or by email)
c. Non-verbal conduct:
  • Display of sexually explicit or suggestive material
  • Sexually-suggestive gestures
  • Whistling

 

Internal Committee

Bharata Kalanjali at this moment constitutes an Internal Committee (from now on referred to as IC) as required by law. The IC has been established to ensure that any incidence of sexual harassment is dealt with appropriately, sensitively and expeditiously. Bharata Kalanjali’s Internal committee has the following members:

  1. Shobana Bhalchandra (Creative Executive Director, BK & Chair of the IC)
  2. Soumtri Som (Teacher at BK)
  3. Kalvina Rajendran (Student at BK)
  4. Venkatesh Sadhwishri (Parent of BK Student)
  5. Geetha Narayanan (Development Consultant and Researcher)

 

Responsibilities of the Internal Committee
  • Receiving complaints of sexual harassment at the workplace
  • Initiating and conducting an inquiry as per the established procedure
  • Submitting findings and recommendations of inquiries
  • Coordinating with Bharata Kalanjali in implementing appropriate action
  • Maintaining strict confidentiality throughout the process as per established guidelines
  • Submitting reports annually/ when required

 

The IC understands that:
  • Anyone can be a victim of sexual harassment, regardless of their sex and of the sex of the harasser.
  • Bharata Kalanjali recognizes that sexual harassment may also occur between people of the same sex. What matters is that the sexual conduct is unwanted and unwelcome by the person against whom the conduct is directed.
  • Bharata Kalanjali recognizes that sexual harassment is a manifestation of power relationships and often occurs within unequal relationships in the workplace, for example between teacher and student.
  • Anyone, including employees, students, staff, collaborators, vendors, contractors or visitors who sexually harass another will be reprimanded in accordance with this internal policy.
  • All sexual harassment is prohibited whether it takes place within Bharata Kalanjali premises or outside, including at social events, work trips, training sessions and workshops organised by Bharata Kalanjali.

 

Complaints & Process
  • When a designated person receives a complaint of sexual harassment, he/she/they will immediately record the dates, times and facts of the incident(s)
  • Ascertain the views of the victim as to what outcome he/she/ they want to ensure that the victim understands Bharata Kalanjali’s procedures for dealing with the complaint
  • Discuss and agree the next steps: either informal or formal complaint, on the understanding that choosing to resolve the matter informally does not preclude the victim from pursuing a formal complaint if he/she/they is/are not satisfied with the outcome
  • Keep a confidential record of all discussions
  • Respect the choice of the victim
  • Ensure that the victim knows that they can lodge the complaint outside of the organization through the relevant country/legal framework
  • Bharata Kalanjali will provide the appropriate authorities with any information necessary to ensure that appropriate legal action is taken.

 

Sanctions and disciplinary measures

Anyone who has been found to have sexually harassed another person under the terms of this policy is liable to any of the following sanctions:

  • Verbal or written warning
  • Adverse performance evaluation
  • Reduction in fee/salaries
  • Suspension
  • Dismissal

The nature of the sanctions will depend on the gravity and extent of the harassment. Suitable deterrent sanctions will be applied to ensure that incidents of sexual harassment are not treated as trivial. Certain serious cases, including physical violence, will result in the immediate dismissal of the harasser.

 

Implementation of this policy

Bharata Kalanjali will ensure that this policy is widely disseminated to all relevant persons. It will be included in the staff handbook. All new employees will be trained on the content of this policy as part of their induction into Bharata Kalanjali.

 

Confidentiality of Complaints, Discussions & Proceedings

Information about complaints and proceedings should not be shared with anyone outside of the IC and should be strictly confidential.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this policy, please send an email to: ic@bharatakalanjali.in