Workplace abuse now virtual: Women’s panel

NT Correspondent

Mysuru: Work place abuse or harassment took new shape and turned virtual following the ‘work from home option’ which became popular at the height of the Covid pandemic, said Karnataka State Women’s Commission chairperson Ms R Pramila Naidu.

She was speaking to media persons after hearing grievances from women at Jaladarshini guest house, in Mysuru on Friday. She explained, “in one case, an IT employee was forced by her boss to go to her room, and show her private parts on a video call online. In another case, the boss convinced his subordinate by promising to promote her, and cheated her after abusing her sexually,” she said.

Ms Pramila added, “ Working women faced increased pressure during the first wave of the pandemic as they had to handle official responsibilities along with household chores at home. And women, especially working women faced increased harassment by family members when they failed to handle their increased demands. The Commission has registered 98 such cases of harassment, she said adding that during the second wave, the Commission had to tackle medical care cases of 22 pregnant women who had tested positive for Covid 19.

She informed that the Commission is receiving 3000 cases a year, 400 to 500 cases per month, and has received 210 cases from Mysuru district this year so far. Speaking on the new challenge they are facing, Ms Pramila said of late they are receiving increased cases pertaining to love affairs where teenage girls are cheated after being sexually abused by boys. In many cases, girls do not want the cases to be registered officially.

Since April this year alone, the Commission has officially registered at least 12 such cases. The proposed law by the Union government to increase the age of marriage of girls to 21, will help girls complete their education. They will be economically self reliant and more mentally mature to handle relationships and marriage, Ms Pramila added.

Deputy Director of Women and Child Development Mr B Basavaraj and Child Development and Protection officer, Ms Manjula Patil were present.