In his reply to the Rajya Sabha on 9^th February 2022, Minister of State of Education, Dr. Subhas Sarkar wrote that the University Grants Commission (“UGC”) has issued an advisory to all colleges and universities to conduct gender awareness programmes in order to sensitize the students and staff about the Sexual Harassment of Women at work place (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (“POSH Act”).

The UGC has notified the University Grants Commission (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of sexual harassment of women employees and students in higher educational institutions) Regulations, 2015. As of now, the UGC Human Resource Development Centres (HRDCs) do conduct Refresher courses and Short-Term courses on Gender Sensitization and a faculty induction programme for newly-recruited teachers which contains a module on Constitutional Value, Human Rights and Fundamental Duties. According to the available data, 716 workshops on gender awareness programmes have been conducted in colleges during the year 2020-21.

– Rhea Bazaz, Final Year Student, Symbiosis Law School, Pune