(a) whether the Director, Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute in January 2004 received any complaint regarding sexual harassment of lady employees;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the action taken against the erring officer?
(a) whether the Director, Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute in January 2004 received any complaint regarding sexual harassment of lady employees;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the action taken against the erring officer?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI KANTILAL BHURIA)
(a) Yes, Sir. Complaint of harassment of one lady employee has been received by the Indian Agricultural Statistical Research Institute in January, 2004.
(b) The incident of utilization of an almirah triggered off an argument between a lady employee and a scientist because of which the former alleged the use of derogatory language in the argument which ensued. In this case on receipt of a complaint from a woman employee of IASRI on 13th January, 2004, about the incident dated 07.01.2004, the matter was enquired into on 14th January, 2004 by a Committee, on which the person incharge of the Complaints Cell (Womens’ Cell) was also present along with the senior most woman scientist in the Institute.
(c) The matter was amicably settled, the person complained against clarified the position stating that the derogatory remarks ascribed to him had not been made by him, however he apologized for any distress that may have been caused to the lady employee. The complainant withdrew her complaint accordingly on 14th January, 2004. Along with this the committee also recommended that both the complainant and the person complained against should be shifted from their present positions. The recommendations of this committee have been implemented.