12 sexual harassment cases under probe: Air India tells WCD
What's the story
There are 12 cases of alleged sexual harassment before Air India's various Internal Complaints Committees (ICC), the airline has informed the Women and Child Development Ministry. WCD Minister Maneka Gandhi reviewed the progress of cases of alleged sexual harassment in Air India and Air India Express in Delhi yesterday. She met Air India CMD Pradeep Singh Kharola and officials of Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Details
Gandhi summoned Kharola earlier over delay in probing a case
It was reported last week that Gandhi had summoned Kharola to seek an explanation behind the delay in completing probe in a sexual harassment case based on the complaint of an air hostess of Air India against its senior executive. The victim had also met Gandhi, following which the WCD Ministry had sought a report from Air India in the case by June.
Harassment cases
It's important for ICC to quickly dispose of cases: Gandhi
Gandhi said that along with the cases of sexual harassment, some women employees tend to file complaints of administrative nature in the garb of sexual harassment. "It is important for the ICC to very quickly dispose of these cases. This will enable the woman, if she has a genuine grievance, to explore proper administration/legal mechanisms for redressal," she said.
Sensitivity
Male employees should be sensitive about female colleagues' perception: Gandhi
Gandhi stated that the aviation sector has expanded and has become more inclusive in its workforce as well as accessible to the middle class. "It's no longer an exclusive sector perceived to be meant for upper-class people like in the 70s and 80s. It's important that the male employees in the sector are extra sensitive to the perceptions about women colleagues," she said.