The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

CAMPUS
Sexual harassment at work: National conference begins
Smriti Kak

To draw attention to the severity of sexual harassment at work and to various related issues that range from public apathy to social ostracism, the School of Law and Legal Studies, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU), has organised a national conference, which began here today.

The three-day conference is being organised in association with the USEFI and Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies. Titled, ‘Sexual Harassment at Place of Work’, the event will have legal luminaries as well as activists present their views on the subject of harassment at work.

The Delhi Chief Minister, Ms Sheila Dikshit, delivered the inaugural address and the welcome address was delivered by Prof K. K. Aggarwal, Vice-Chancellor, GGSIP University.

The speakers will focus on sexual harassment at workplace as an occupational hazard, a violation of human rights and a clear form of gender discrimination that seriously undermines equality of opportunity.

On the first day of the event, sexual harassment at the work place was pointed out as a global issue.

It was pointed out that though the incidents of sexual harassment at work places have been a widespread problem in India and elsewhere, it is for the first time that such a practice has been recognised as an infringement of the Fundamental Rights of a woman under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution of India.

The national conference will deliberate upon the problem of sexual harassment at work places under the topics, ‘Sexual Harassment (Prevention and Redress) Bill, 2003’, ‘Problem of Non-Reporting of Cases and Judicial Approach to the Problem of Sexual Harassment’.

Some of the speakers include Prof Nomita Aggarwal, Dean, School of Law and Legal Studies, GGSIP University, Dr S. C. Vats, MLA, Delhi, Chairman, Strength India Education Society, Ms Poornima Advani, Chairperson, National Commission for Women, Ms Jane E. Schukoske, Executive Director, United States Education Foundation India and Mr M. N. Krishnamani, President, Supreme Court Bar Association.

INSO to take active interest in politics

Like the true blue politicians, the student leaders of the Indian National Student’s Organisation (INSO) have decided to take “active interest” in student politics. The party, which managed to get a lead over an ABVP candidate in the fight for the post of vice-president in the DUSU elections, has decided to lay the ground for the next years’ elections.

In a release issued by the party, it claims that the “Party will play a constructive opposition’s role by raising issues of students cause and supporting the Delhi University Students Union in its positive programmes for students uplift, in case they are taken up.”

INSO spokesperson Kapoor Chaudhary said that INSO would strive to bring a positive change in the students’ politics of Delhi. “We will not wait for the NSUI to fail, rather we will force them to work,” the spokesperson said.

He went on to add that DUSU should work for more U-special buses, opening of new morning and evening colleges, more job oriented courses and a curb on eve-teasing and sexual harassment.

The party has also constituted an 11-member executive committee with leaders like Amit Kaushik, Meena Dabas, Rohit Chaudhary, Priyanka Arora, Sushil Punia and Abhivek Singh among others. A five-member advisory and policy making committee has also been formed.

Also on the agenda is reformation of the INSO units in all the colleges. The INSO leaders will visit all the colleges to thank the students for their support.

What stands out is the decision to remove all its election-related posters and help clean the city. A cue to the other parties this.

Knowledge millennium

Union Labour Minister Dr Sahib Singh Verma at the seminar, 'India in the Knowledge Millennium', organised by Technia Institute of Advanced Studies.

The Technia Institute of Advanced Studies organised a two-day International Conference on ‘India in the Knowledge Millennium’, which was aimed at addressing issues related to knowledge management.

The main focus was on the resolution impact and the effect of WTO’s entry on Indian Economics. On the occasion, the Union Minister of Labour, Dr Sahib Singh Verma, encouraged the students by saying, “I hope that India will be a developed country by 2020, and it will not be an impossible task if we utilise our resources efficiently.”

Among those present on the occasion were Chairman UGC, Dr Arun Nigavekar, former Director, ONGC, Mr R. K. Gupta and CEO Bilawar Infotech, Mr S. S. Dubey.

Seminar on success

Dr S. S. Verneker felicitating Mr Subhash Jagota, Executive Director, Punj Lioyd, during the seminar, 'Dynamics of Success', organised by Bharati Vidyapeeth's Institute of Management & Research, New Delhi.

The Bharatiya Vidyapeeth’s Institute of Management and Research organised a daylong seminar on ‘Dynamics of Success’. The guest speakers included Mr Subhash Jagota, Executive Director, Punj Lloyd and Mr Girish Vir, Director of the Institute.

Mr Jagota gave the students 13 tips for success that will help them become successful global managers. It was pointed out that success is not achieved by fate, clear goals, persistent efforts and knowing ones strength are all required for achieving success.

Amity students for Moot Court event

The students from Amity Law School have been selected to participate in the International Moot Courts at Florida. The students, Himanshu Dodeja, Ashish Mohan, Deepika Bansal and Karan S. Chandhiok, will be competing at the Moot Court Competition on ‘International Environment Law’, to be held at The Stetson University College of Law, Florida, on October 31.

The domestic rounds were conducted by the Chennai Law College, where students from across the country participated. The team from Amity had to beat the team from NALSAR, Hyderabad, to enter the semi-finals.

The four teams that have qualified to represent India in the semi-final rounds at Florida include, Indian law School, Pune, NUJS, Kolkatta, and Kerala Academy, Kerala, besides the team from Amity.

Kurian joins Sylvan as India head

Mr Jacob Kurian has joined Sylvan Learning India as its president and will manage the business operations associated with the newest university in the global Sylvan network, South Asia International Institute.

The South Asia International Institute started classes in Hyderabad on August 11. The South Asia International Institute, the most recent addition to Sylvan Learning Systems network of international universities, offers five year dual degree programmes (B.Tech/ M.Tech or B.Tech/MBA) in the engineering streams of Telecommunications Engineering, Electronics Engineering, and Computer Science and Engineering, and Masters Degree (MS) in Computer Science and Software Engineering. In the future, additional streams of engineering and degree programmes in the areas of Business Management, Hotel Management, Health Sciences, Communications and similar career-oriented fields will be introduced.

The South Asia International Institute operates from its city campus, located in Hyderabad, while the main campus is coming up on a 125-acre site located South of the city, near the proposed international airport.