ICC – Meenakshi College of Engineering – Affiliated to Anna University Approved by AICTE, New Delhi. An ISO 9001:2008 Certified Institution Accredited by COA.

About the Committee

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

The sexual harassment of women at workplace (prevention, prohibition and redressal) act 2013 is an act to provide protection against sexual harassment of women at work place.
Sexual harassment results in the violation of basic fundamental rights of women such as Right to equality under article 14, 15 and her right to live with dignity under article 21 of the constitution of India.

PREAMBLE:

In accordance with guidelines from the Supreme Court and UGC, and as mandated by the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition &Redressal) Act, 2013, Meenakshi College of Engineering has established an Internal Complaints Committee (Anti-Sexual Harassment Cell).
Meenakshi College of Engineering is committed to providing a secure and supportive environment for female students and women employees, achieving this goal with zero complaints.
The ICC at the institution is responsible for formulating principles and procedures to address sexual harassment issues.
The ICC actively promotes gender equality, eliminates bias and discrimination, and addresses sexual harassment and other forms of gender-based violence through awareness programs and campaigns for the benefit of all members of the institution.

The college’s Internal Complaints Committee addresses the grievances filed in a confidential and sensitive manner.

Receive the complaints of sexual harassment.
Initiate the inquiry and submit the findings from the inquiry done.
Direct the employer to undertake required actions.
Submit an annual report in the prescribed format.

OBJECTIVES OF ICC:

ICC is to ensure the implementation of the policy in letter and spirit through proper reporting of the complaints and their follow-up procedures.

To develop healthy and safe atmosphere for the staff and students of the college and to prevent sexual harassment or exploitation of any kind.
To create an awareness among the staff and students on sexual harassment in its various forms.
To lay down the Policy measures and procedures to combat sexual harassment, if any arises, and the students are made aware of these proactive measures through seminars and outreach programmes.
To uphold the commitment of the Institute to provide an environment free of gender based discrimination.
To provide a conducive environment and congenial atmosphere for women staff and students.

Vision

To foster a secure environment for women within the institution and empower each female student to depart as socially responsible and professionally accomplished individuals, she tirelessly pursues excellence while steadfastly upholding moral and ethical principles.

Mission

Ensuring a safe and secure environment for women students and staff.
Equipping women with comprehensive skills and knowledge about all institutional events.
Socially and intellectually uplifting female students through active participation in personality development programs.
Empowering women to speak out against gender discrimination, injustice and violence.

Functions of the Committee

As per the guidelines of UGC, NAAC and the Supreme Court, the college has established the Internal Complaints Committee for the effective enforcement of basic human rights of gender equality and assurance of an environment to be free from sexual harassment and abuses.
Prevents discriminations, gender, caste and other inequalities against women by creating awareness
Spreads social awareness through street plays, marathons etc.
Promptly and confidentially deals with the cases of any sexual harassment and abuses in the campus and taking necessary steps against the accused.
Provide assistance if an employee or a student chooses to file a complaint with the police;
Provide mechanisms of dispute redressal and dialogue to anticipate and address issues through just and fair conciliation without undermining complainant’s rights, and minimize the need for purely punitive approaches that lead to further resentment, alienation or violence;
Protect the safety of the complainant by not divulging the person’s identity, and provide the mandatory relief by way of sanctioned leave or relaxation of attendance requirement or transfer to another department or supervisor as required during the pendency of the complaint, or also provide for the transfer of the offender;
Ensure that victims or witnesses are not victimized or discriminated against while dealing with complaints of sexual harassment; and
Ensure prohibition of retaliation or adverse action against a covered individual because the employee or the student is engaged in protected activity.

Roles & Responsibilities

A periodical awareness programme and counseling sessions are conducted for women students regarding the sexual harassment and the facilities available for the remedial.
They need to be motivated to take the right decision making in every situation.
If any student approaches a committee member either through the complaint box placed in front of the college office or by telephone, necessary action will be taken through counseling and conciliatory
A meeting will be called by the chairperson and a notice of at least 5 working days will be given for the meeting while for an exceptional cases, an emergency meeting will be conducted presided over by the chair-person or at least with a minimum of 2 committee members.
The matter will be sorted-out within one week from the date of complaint.
The Committee will take the responsibility to ensure that no such incident happens in the campus.
If the ICC has decided not to conduct an enquiry into a complaint, it shall record the reasons for the same in the minutes of the meeting and the committee shall make the same available to the complaint-cell in writing.
A confidential report and actions will be taken by the committee with the knowledge of the administrative heads and the management.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

COMMITTEE COMPOSITION

Committee Chairperson	PROF. JOOHI BANSAL, Design Chair, School of Architecture
Committee Coordinator	Ms. V. SUMITHRA, Assistant Professor in Chemistry, Department of Science and Humanities
Committee Co-convener	Ms. D. RAMA DEVI, Assistant Professor / Department of Civil Engineering
Committee Members	Staff and Student Representatives from Various Departments

In accordance with the notifications issued by the UGC, Government Gazette, and AICTE, the Internal Complaints Committee has been established and restructured for the academic year 2024-2025. This initiative is undertaken under the guidance of the Heads of Departments and the Principal.

Any individual who encounter or observe barriers related to gender-based discrimination or harassment on college premises are encouraged to report these issues to the following committee members. We assure you that all matters will be handled with confidentiality and impartiality, and we are committed to resolving these issues cooperatively.

This updated committee structure is in effect from 03.09.2024.

S. No.	Name of the Member with Designation	Staff / Student	Department	Position
1	Prof. Joohi Bansal / Senior Professor	Staff	Design Chair / School of Architecture	Chairperson
2	Dr. V. Sumithra / Assistant Professor	Staff	Science & Humanities	Coordinator
3	Ms. D. Rama Devi / Associate Professor	Staff	Civil Department	Co-Convener
4	Dr. C. H. Sarada Devi / Associate Professor	Staff	CSE Department	Member
5	Dr. V. Srividhya / Associate Professor	Staff	EEE Department	Member
6	Ms. R. AnandhaPraba / Assistant Professor	Staff	ECE Department	Member
7	Ms. S. R. Kalaiyarasi / Assistant Professor	Staff	MBA Department	Member
8	Dr. V. Soma Sundari / Assistant Professor	Staff	MCA Department	Member
9	Ms. S. M. Ajitha / Assistant Professor	Staff	IT Department	Member
10	Ms. P. Sudha Juliet / Assistant Professor	Staff	EIE Department	Member
11	Mr. R. Murali / Assistant Professor	Staff	Mechanical Engineering	Member
12	S. JaithaShree / Student Coordinator	Student	IV B. Arch.	Member
13	R. V. Arjun / Student Coordinator	Student	II CSE A	Member
14	P. Srivatsan / Student Representative	Student	III CSE B	Member
15	M. A. Samyuktha / Student Respresentative	Student	III IT B	Member
16	A. S. Ashika / Student Respresentative	Student	II MBA	Member
17	G. Lekha / Student Respresentative	Student	II Mechanical	Member
18	M. Monisha / Student Respresentative	Student	II EIE	Member
19	Ltcol. Agnes Shanthi / Resource Person	External Person	Counsellor	Member
20	Adv. Karthika / Legal Advisor	External Person	Junior Advocate	Member