118 harassment cases filed in BMC, reveals RTI response

MUMBAI: In the past four years (2013-16), the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials have registered 118 cases of sexual harassment in its offices, reveals

MUMBAI: In the past four years (2013-16), the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials have registered 118 cases of sexual harassment in its offices, reveals a right to information (RTI) response.

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In a reply to the RTI filed by activist Anil Galgali requesting number of sexual harassment complaints filed in the civic administration and action taken, the civic body replied that 21 sexual harassments cases were registered by its women employees till June this year.

According to this information, from 2013 to 2016, the average number of complaints registered with the committee which works under Women Sexual Harassment Prevention chief and ‘Savitribai Phule Women Resource Centre each year should be 29.

While in 2013 and 2014, 32 and 34 complaints were lodged respectively, there was a marginal decline in 2015 as 31 cases were filed.

Out of the 118 cases, 96% have been cleared and punishment has been announced by the committee. As per the data, no decision was taken in 4 out of 21 complaints this year.

There were 53 cases between 2010 and 2013, which increased to 32 in just 2014, said the report by the 15-member legislative committee on rights and welfare of women.

However, Galgali has written to municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta demanding that all the names of the officers, who have been found guilty of sexual harassment by the committee, should be displayed on the BMC website.

This will act as a strong deterrent as the fear of public shaming will reduce such future instances, Galgai said.

He further demanded that chairman, secretary and the members of the committee appointed to look into the complaints of sexual harassment by women employees be given a fixed term to ensure a fair decision.