JNU students, women’s groups march to UGC office demanding restoration of GSCASH

Students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) along with several women organisations marched to the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) office on Friday, October 27, demanding the restoration of Gender Sensitisation Committee Against Sexual Harassment (GSCASH), a fully autonomous body that dealt with cases of sexual harassment.

Various women organisations including All India Women’s Association, All India Mahila Sanskritik Sangathan, National Federation of Indian Women, All India Democratic Students Organisation, Centre For Struggling Women (CSW) and Pinjra Tod participated in the march.

The recent replacement of GSCASH with Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) in JNU had drawn criticism from students as well as the faculty.

The demand for restoration of GSCASH arises from the need of an autonomous body to address cases of sexual harassment and gender-based violence. As Newslaundry reported earlier, the ICC members will be nominated by the administration whereas GSCASH was an elected body. On September 27, JNU students’ election commission had held GSCASH elections despite warnings given by the administration.

After continuous sloganeering, students from various organisations and campuses addressed the gathering. “The administration wants to control us and control our mobility. That’s why we are here,” said Geeta Kumari, the newly-elected JNU Students’ Union president.

“Dismantling autonomy of bodies like GSCASH is not happening only in JNU, it’s happening in BHU and Kerala as well,” said Chetna Trivedi, a protester. “The VC who is entwined with current regime has selected certain members for ICC, who are also associated with right-wing. VC can’t digest that we can be fierce, we can roam freely in the campus and we can complain. But if they try to kill us, we will not stop fighting. They are clearly scared of our unity,” Trivedi added.

Another protester Shreya Ghosh, who is also an elected-GSCASH representative from JNU, reiterated the importance of autonomy for sexual harassment redressal committees. “Those who are in power can’t be part of sexual harassment redressal committees,” Ghosh said.

A student from Delhi university spoke about the need for sexual harassment redressal committees in other universities. “There is nobody in DU to work on sexual harassment complaints. There’s a lack of awareness among students about GSCASH and we go through discriminatory rules such as paying a fine for coming even 10 minutes late to the hostels,” the student said.

The question of discriminatory rules for women has been raised by women students on campuses all over India. Discriminatory curfew timing for women’s hostels, unequal access to campus spaces including library and late-hour classes, sexist dress codes and disciplinary norms exist in almost all campuses across the country. Maya John, who works with CSW, spoke to Newslaundry about the need for comprehensive bodies to resolve women issues for women factory workers and agricultural labourers as well. “The 2013 Act [Sexual Harassment in Workplace (Prevention and Prohibition)] was passed in a hurry without concrete discussion since the capital witnessed the most outrageous Nirbhaya’s rape case. But, the higher bodies currently consist of members who are excessively hierarchical and the informal sector has witnessed its repercussions,” said John.

The protest ended with songs of resistance by Dastak, a theatre group from JNU.