INTERNAL COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE (ICC)
Government of India has introduced a law against sexual harassment - The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013, (POSH Act – Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act). The POSH Act 2013 provides for establishing Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) in organisations to address complaints of sexual harassment and to create a safe working environment for women employees. It also seeks to create awareness about the issue of sexual harassment and to provide the necessary legal remedies to victims. Handbook of the Act is published by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
All India Council for Technical Education [AICTE] has modified the same for technical institutions [vide The Gazette of India: Extraordinary [Part III—Sec. 4]] and these regulations are called the All India Council for Technical Education (Gender Sensitization, Prevention and Prohibition of Sexual Harassment of Women Employees and Students and Redressal of Grievances in Technical Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2016.
The above-mentioned Court Order has placed responsibility on employers to ensure that women do not face a hostile environment. It has directed for the establishment of a redressal mechanism in the form of Complaints Committee, which will look into the matters of sexual harassment of women at the workplace.
| No | Titles | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ICC constitution | |
| 2 | Women Development Cell constituition | |
| 3 | Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act Gazatte | |
| 4 | AICTE order on Gender Sensitization | |
| 5 | Handbook on Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace |
GRIEVANCE REDRESSAL MECHANISM - AS PER AICTE REGULATIONS
Every Technical Institution (TI) shall constitute an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) with an inbuilt mechanism for gender sensitization against sexual harassment. The ICC is a 9-member committee with the composition as laid down in Clause 4 of AICTE Order vide The Gazette of India: Extraordinary [Part III—Sec. 4].
AJCE POLICY
‘Gender Equality’ is one of the policies of Amal Jyothi College of Engineering, and each one is vigilant to ensure a harassment-free life on the campus. The campus is blessed to be a safe nest for women, and everyone respects the woman in campus recognizing her talent and struggle in excelling in multiple roles in the family as a mother, sister, daughter, wife, daughter-in-law and in society as bread-winner, student and the like.
The college has constituted an ICC as per AICTE regulations. The committee for the year 2022-23 has been reconstituted on 26.05.2022 and publicised via circular No.AJCE/PO/ICC/260522.
Members of ICC 2023-‘24| Name | Designation & Dept. | Email ID |
|---|---|---|
| Ms. Jiss Abraham, Presiding Officer | Assoc. Prof. - CE Tel # 9447151932 | jissabraham@amaljyothi.ac.in |
| Adv. Soni Thomas, External Member | Advocate, PTC Building, Court Junction, Ponkunnam | sonipurayldathil@gmail.com |
| Dr. Abin Manoj, Teaching faculty Member | Professor, BS | abinmanojpotemkulam@amaljyothi.ac.in |
| Dr. Jippu Jacob, Teaching faculty Member | Adjunct Professor - ME | jippujacob@amaljyothi.ac.in |
| Sr. Sholly Philip, Non-Teaching faculty Member | Senior Superintendent | shollyphilip@amaljyothi.ac.in |
| Ms. K.P. Jyothikumari, Non-Teaching faculty Member | Lab Instructor Gr II | kpjyothikumari@amaljyothi.ac.in |
| Mr Akash Nandakumar, Student Member | Student, BT20ME | akashnandakumar07@gmail.com |
| Ms. Ardra B, Student Member | Student, MCAINT2020 25-S6 | binduhari_g@yahoo.com |
| Ms Varsha P Biju, Student Member | Student, BT20FT | bijutissy@gmail.com |
If we chance to meet any woman who has experienced abuse, feel threatened/unsafe or needs assistance, we have to extend our support to them. Report the matter to any of the IC Committee members via their email id/personal phones or reach us at icc@amaljyothi.ac.in.
We should not close our eyes to the truth that Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) is one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations in the world which remain largely unreported due to the impunity, silence, stigma and shame surrounding it (Source: UN reports).
Responsibilities of Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), The Process for making Complaint and conducting Inquiry, Interim Redressal, Punishment and compensation, Action against frivolous complaint, Consequences of non-compliance are all laid down in Clauses 5 -12 of AICTE Order vide The Gazette of India: Extraordinary [Part III—Sec. 4]. (Refer attachment)
WOMEN DEVELOPMENT CELL [WDC] OF AJCE
Clause 3.2 (14) of AICTE Order vide The Gazette of India: Extraordinary [Part III—Sec. 4] encourages the functioning of “Women Development Cells (WDCs)” in colleges. WDCs shall be revived periodically and funded to be able to carry out the range of activities required for gender sensitization and remain autonomous of the functioning of anti-sexual harassment committees and ICCs. At the same time, they shall extend their activities to include gender sensitization programmes in consultation with ICCs and help to disseminate anti- sexual harassment policies on campuses on a regular basis.”
Accordingly, Amal Jyothi College of Engineering has constituted a Women Development Cell (WDC), the committee consisting of a female faculty from each Department, coordinated by the Chairperson, who is also the Presiding Officer of the ICC. The WDC of AJCE for year 2022-’23 is attached. For suggestions, reach WDC at womencell@amaljyothi.ac.in