COMMITTEE AGAINST SEXUAL HARASSMENT

        In compliance with the Supreme Court Judgment and guidelines issued in 1997 to provide for the effective enforcement of the basic human right of gender equality and guarantee against sexual harassment and abuse, more particularly against sexual harassment at work places. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued circulars since 1998, to all the universities, advising them to establish a permanent cell and a committee and to frame guidelines to combat sexual harassment, violence against women and ragging at the universities and colleges. It has further advised the universities to be proactive by developing a conducive atmosphere on the campus, where the women are respected and they are treated with dignity.
As per the guidelines of UGC and the Supreme Court, a Committee Against Sexual Harassment (CASH) has established by HNGU, Patan since January, 2014 to provide a healthy and congenial atmosphere to the staff and students of the University.
Only complaints under jurisdiction of HNGU, Patan against sexual harassment come under the purview of Committee Against Sexual Harassment.

The CASH is committed to :

• Observing the law on Sexual Harassment
• Sensitizing the campus community on gender issues
• Addressing complaints from victims

• Prevent discrimination and sexual harassment against women, by promoting gender amity among students and employees.
• Develop the guidelines and norms for a policy against sexual harassment. Work out procedures for combating sexual harassment and implementation of the policy.
• Make recommendations to Honorable Vice Chancellor for changes/elaborations in the Rules for students in the Prospectus and the Bye-Laws, to make them gender just. Also to lay down procedures for the prohibition, resolution, settlement and prosecution of acts of discrimination and sexual harassment against women, students and the employees.
• Deal with cases of discrimination and sexual harassment against women in a time bound manner and aiming at ensuring support services to the victim. Recommend appropriate punitive action against the guilty party to the Honorable Vice Chancellor.
• To prepare a detailed plan of action, both short and long term.

1. Prof. (Dr.) Sangita Sharma Chairperson Presiding officer
2. Dr. Smita B. Vyas Sectary and legal advisor Member
3. Ar. Neepa Chauhan Teaching Faculty Member
4. Dr. Ridhi Agarwal Teaching Faculty ` Member
5. Dr. Sapna Patel Teaching Faculty Member
6. Dr. Atul Kadia Teaching Faculty Member
7. Dr. Neha Patel Non Teaching Faculty Female Member
8. Ms. Meghna Patel Non Teaching Faculty Female Member
9. Mr. Brijesh Patel Non Teaching Faculty male Member
10. Miss AnjumanKadri Teaching Faculty Female Member
11. Krishnaben Jansari Student:Graduate level Member
12. Shri Vinod Darji Student:PostGraduate level Member
13. Shri Ankit Patel Student : Research level Member
14. Mrs. Ushaben Buch Third Party: Female Social Special Inviteeworker / NGO
15. Advo. Sandhya Pradhan Third Party: Female Legal Special Invitee Advisor/ Women Activist
16. Miss Nimishaben Parikh Third Party: Female Special Invitee Social Worker
17. Dr. Rutva Shah Health Officer Special Invitee
18. Dr. Andrew Liggy college representative Special Invitee
19. Dr.Padma Hirpara SC/ ST Representative Special Invitee

• The aggrieved women as defined in clause 2(a) of the Gender Sensitization and Sexual Harassment of Women at the Supreme Court of India (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Regulations, 2013.

According to the Supreme Court, sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexually determined behaviour such as:

• Physical contact, gestures, or stalking
• A demand or request for sexual favors
• Sexually oriented remarks
• Showing pornography
• Use of electronic media (phone, internet, intranet) for perpetrating any of the above
• Any other unwelcome physical, verbal, or non-verbal conduct of a sexual nature

• Don't feel a sense of shame. Tell the harasser very clearly that you find this behaviour offensive.
• Don't ignore the harassment in the hope that it will stop on its own; come forward and complain.
• Talk to somebody you trust about the harassment. It will not only give you strength, but also help others to come forward and complain.
• Keep a detailed record of all incidents related to the sexual harassment. If you feel the need to register a formal complaint later, this record will be helpful.
• Most importantly, the victim must never blame herself for the harassment.

• If informal methods such as telling the perpetrator to stop harassing do not succeed, the victim can lodge a complaint through email or by a telephone call to any of the members.
• The complainant's name and identity will be kept confidential.

• The CASH committe has been involved in awareness and sensitization campaigns via lectures one to one contact by committee members and the distribution of material at the beginning of each academic year.
• International Women's Day is celebrated in March each year with a program of content relevant to the community such as lectures by women role models, panel discussions, dramas, plays, skits, poster competition etc.