Women for Justice, a Delhi based women body, staged a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on November 30 seeking stern punishment to Tehalka chief Tarun Tejpal and also demanding proper safety for women at workplace. Tejpal is in Goa police custody since November 29.
The women said the incident of molestation of a lady journalist by Tejpal has raised very serious concern regarding safety of women at workplaces. “We as a women organisation demand for more stringent laws and guidelines regarding the same and strict enforcement of them in all public and private sector. We also demand the creation of complaint committee according to Vishaka guidelines in every government and private sector,” said Advocate Monia Arora, while addressing the protestors.
She said the cases related to sexual assault should be tried in fast track courts. She said gender sensitisation training for every government and private organisation, especially for the Police Department, should be made mandatory. “We condemn this incident in strongest manner and urges the government and judicial system to provide justice to the victim in shortest possible time and the accused should be punished in harshest possible way to make this punishment as a deterrent for all those who dare to molest a woman in India,” she said.
A memorandum was also presented to President Shri Pranab Mukherjee the seeking exemplary punishment to the rapists so that none can try to molest any woman in the country. “Workplace is like second home for working individuals. They spend a big chunk of their waking hours in office working and interacting with their colleagues. Thus, the safety of every individual at workplace is something that is of great concern. In today’s time, the number of women working in offices is significant in comparison of men and their safety and security at workplace is of utmost importance, if we wish to promote more women in workforce. From the past few days, the accusations that are surfacing against the editor-in-chief of Tehelka are quite disturbing. The accusation of sexual molestation against him by a female employee, that too his daughter’s age shows complete disgrace, and low class mentality. Even shocking is the complete absence of any grievance complaint committee in an organisation like Tehelka, which is mandatory by the Supreme Court under Vishakha guidelines,” the memorandum said.
The memorandum also came down heavily on the Tehlaka management saying the insensitivity shown towards the victim by the organisation is nothing less than shocking, especially in presence of a female boss. The memorandum was signed by Advocate Monica Arora, Dr Malti, Smt Kavita Vishnoi, Smt Lalita Nijhawan and advocate Jyotika Kalra.
