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It
is heartening that more and more women are daring
to speak up about sexual abuse at the workplace.
A case in point is the labour lawsuit filed by
Rina Mukherjee, former senior reporter, The
Statesman, Kolkata, that has rocked the media
fraternity for the past few months.
Rina's employment with The Statesman, Kolkata,
was terminated on specious grounds when she dared
to protest about the sexual harassment she was
being subjected to by Ishan Joshi, news coordinator
of the paper.
Recruited by the reputed media house on June 10,
2002, she braved a nightmarish battle against
her harasser (both professionally and sexually)
for almost over a year. Rina had taken up the
Statesman job after a five-year sabbatical
-- due to the birth of her daughter -- and she
didn't want to risk losing it. But when all efforts
to ward off Ishan Joshi failed, Rina had no choice
but to verbally complain to the managing editor
of The Statesman, Ravindra Kumar. But,
instead of Joshi being punished, she was victimised
yet again and asked to quit on October 12, 2002.
Although, initially, it was a relief not to have
to face her harasser evey day, frustration and
the feeling of falling prey to circumstances beyond
her control, soon began to haunt her. It was not
easy but she managed to overcome her trauma, and
fight back.
On
the advice of some friends, she got in touch with
the Bengal Women Journalists' Network, the state
chapter of the Network for Women in Media, India.
After a brainstorming session with the Network
members, protest letters were shot off to The
Statesman. The Network did all it could to
spread the word among concerned persons and encouraging
responses have been flooding in from all parts
of the country.
Though
Statesman questioned the authority of the
Network to stand up for Rina, it set up the Sexual
Harassment Complaints Committee in both its Delhi
and Kolkata offices after receiving the Network's
letter in February 2003.
Rina
has also sought the help of the West Bengal Commission
for Women. The Commission, apart from its letter
to The Statesman to conduct an enquiry
into Rina's sexual abuse complaints, also forwarded
her case to the office of the Labour Commissioner,
the police and The Human Rights Law Network (under
the guidance of the Calcutta High Court's Sexual
Harassment
Cell). Public outcry and NGO initiatives have
also added muscle to her cause.
The Labour Court is currently investigating Rina's
abrupt termination of service. Whether this gutsy
woman finally gets justice remains to be seen;
meanwhile, Rina has become a beacon of hope and
courage to women in similar situations all over
India.
More
on Rina's case:
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