UGC seeks data on sexual harassment plaints received by varsities

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has directed all varsities and higher education institutions to furnish details of sexual harassment complaints received by them during the last academic year and their status.

The regulatory body has also sought details of the Internal Complaints Committee that needs to be set up at institutions on a mandatory basis in keeping with the University Grants Commission (prevention, prohibition and redressal of sexual harassment of women employees and students in higher educational institutions) Regulations, 2015.

The commission has sought details of the complaints received during April, 2017 to March, 2018.

"The varsities have been asked to furnish data including number of sexual harassment complaints received during the period besides number of complaints disposed of during the year and number of cases pending for more than 90 days," a senior UGC official said.

"Details about nature of action taken on the complaints and number of workshops on awareness programmes against sexual harassment conducted during the year have also been sought," the official added.

The varsities are supposed to send the data by end of this month.