Woman of her kind.........

Sandhya Panigrahi, is not a celebrity. She is merely popular in the town, but she is one of her kind women. A women who will make other women be a woman like her. Calm, knowledgeable, focused, ethical, righteous and all that an ideal human being should be.

The first time I met her was few years  back. Her son was in college, husband working at a renowned firm and a mother-in-law. I saw her like a typical housewife who has nothing to do with outside world. Stay all day at home or so to say in the kitchen and keep everyone's wishes and demands fulfilled in her family. The one time she invited me for dinner she had prepared all possible types of Oriya dishes, probably more items than a buffet in some 3 star restaurant. The one thing that strike me back then was that she was full of ideas. Any topic we had as a dinner table conversation, she had a logical point of view to it. She had in-depth idea about starting a business, investing in shares, cooking off course, general awareness.

The next time I met her was after 2 years of my first visit. It was when her husband had expired, her son had started working at a big firm in a metropolitan city and that mother-in-law was bed ridden due to paralysis attack. Things were not the same around her, life for her appeared to be direction-less. But the very basic nature of her, remained. The real Sandhya with all her inhibition stayed intact. The inner strength which shined in her eyes were as it used to be. Ideally in such a situation we expect the woman of house to go weak and look out for help from other male members of her family. But this lady was different. She had her siblings beside her, her relatives from both mother's side and her husband's side. With all these people around she chose to stand right up. Take the guidance from others and do what she felt is the right thing to do. She chose to stay with her mother-in-law and take care of her and get the best treatment possible in that small town. She chose to let go of her son to pursue his dreams of go ahead with his career. She started teaching the young girls the art of stitching as she was good at it. She build her knowledge in investments, shares/equity and all possible sources to save money and grow herself as an individual. She got on to the social networking websites to be aware of as many things as she can. Her husband used to drive this car given by his company. She requested the Director of company to give it to her on a lower price so that she can use it for her convenience.

At first I was pleasantly surprised to see her so focused and strong. I was amazed to look at the energy she had. But as I looked around, I saw people laughing at her. They thought she has lost her mind as she is trying to do everything at once.  They made fun of her for learning car driving at this age They though she is trying to be an entrepreneur at this age by starting stitching classes. There were so many things everyone pin pointed and gossiped about. But nothing shook her from her target, nothing distracted her from doing what she was willing to do.

I met her again few weeks back.  This time around I saw the change around her. Every single person in her family believed in her. She was successful in everything that she started with a good heart. She seemed to have enlightened her surroundings. Her attitude, value and thoughts has influenced so many in family and near n dear ones. People ask for her advice when they want to start something new. People ask her for a ride if they are want to go some place. It's amazing to see such a change in a small city like Rourkela.

She might not know but she inspired me as well. She moved me to get up and get going. As I thought of what can I add to my women empowerment blog I could only think of her...

Indian Law on "The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013"

Purpose:

To provide protection against sexual harassment of women at workplace and for the prevention and redressal of complaints of sexual harassment and for the matters connected therewith of thereto.

Why this Act: 

• Sexual Harassment at a workplace is considered violated of women's right to equality, life and liberty. It creates an insecure and hostile work environment, which discourages women's participation in work, thereby adversely affecting their social and economic empowerment and the goal of inclusive growth.
• With more and more women joining the workforce, both is organised and un-organised sectors, ensuring and enabling working environment for women through legislation is felt imperative by the Government.

Two entities affected/involved:

Employee: A person employed at the workplace for any work on regular, temporary, ad-hoc, daily wage basis, either directly or through an agent, including a contractor, with or without the knowledge of the principal employer, whether or not for remuneration or working on the voluntary basis or otherwise, whether the terms of employment are express or implied and includes a co-worker, a contract worker, probationer, trainee, apprentice or called by any other such name.

Employer: In relation to ant department, organisation, undertaking, establishment, enterprise, institution, office, branch or unit of the appropriate Government or a local authority in the above.

If not specified any person responsible for management, supervision or control of the workplace.

Sexual Harassment Defined:

Includes any one or more of the following un-welcomed acts or behaviour (whether directly or by implication) viz:

Physical Contact or advances

A demand or request for sexual favour

Making sexually coloured remarks

Showing pornography

Any unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature.

Constitution of Internal Complaints Committee:

Every Employer of a workplace shall by order in writing constitute a committee to be known as "Internal Complaints Committee"

Member of the Committee:

Presiding Officer who shall be a women employed at a senior level at workplace from amongst the employees.

Not less than two members from amongst employees preferably committed to the cause of women/experience in social work/have legal knowledge.

One member from the NGO/associations committed to the cause of women/person familiar with the issues related to sexual harassment.

The committee members to hold office for three years and External member will be paid fees.

Complaint of sexual Harassment

A written Complaint to the Internal Committee by the complaint, within a period of three months from the date of incident and incase of series of incidents, within a period of three months from the date of last incident.

The internal committee can extend the period with reasons in writing exceeding not more than 3 months.

Legal heir or such other person can make a complaint on account of her physical or mental incapacity or death.

Provisions for Complaint Redressal:

Written report is necessary in each person

• Conciliation - At the request of the aggrieved woman before initiating an inquiry to settle the matter.
• No monetary settlement shall be made as a basis for conciliation and no inquiry will be conducted.

Inquiry into Complaint

The internal committee has same power as are vested in a civil court, such as

• Summoning and enforcing attendance of any person and examining him on oath.
• Requiring the discovery and production of documents.
• Any other matter which may prescribed

Inquiry to be completed in 90 days.

FALSE Accusation:

Punishment for False or Malicious Complaint and False Evidence.  Mere inability to substantiate a complaint or provide adequate proof need not attract action against a complaint.

If the internal committee comes to a conclusion that it was false and/or malicious accusation and/or the witness has given false evidence or produced any forged or misleading document, it may recommend the employer for the complaint and/or the witness to take action in accordance with the provision of the service rules or where no such service rules exist, in such manner as may be prescribed.