Mumbai, May 11: The National Commission for Women (NCW) has uncovered alarming deficiencies in the functioning of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) committee at the TCS Nashik unit. This revelation has once again highlighted the plight of female employees who have reportedly faced sexual harassment, mental torture, and coercion for religious conversion by male colleagues.
A four-member NCW fact-finding team, investigating claims of harassment and forced conversions at the IT firm, discovered numerous violations that left the team members shocked by the level of insensitivity. The POSH committee was found to have failed in multiple cases.
The NCW’s investigation revealed that the Internal Committee (IC) for POSH was the same for both Pune and Nashik, which directly contravenes the act. No member of the IC had visited or inspected the Nashik unit to assess compliance with the POSH Act.
Furthermore, the NCW noted the absence of any placards, boards, or posters indicating the mandatory nature of POSH compliance, nor was there any display of contact details for IC members.
The investigation also found that there were no awareness programs for employees, nor orientation sessions for IC members. In essence, there was a complete lack of compliance with the POSH Act.
The NCW expressed shock at the insensitivity displayed by the POSH committee members, stating that they had utterly failed to comply with Section 19(c) of the POSH Act. There was a notable absence of empathy or compassion towards the female employees at TCS Nashik.
It is significant to note that the incidents of forced conversions and sexual harassment at the Nashik unit had already shaken the nation. Shortly after these allegations surfaced, the NCW took cognizance and dispatched a team to investigate the claims made by several female employees.
In its two-page report, the NCW documented numerous instances of irregularities and negligence by the company, confirming that many female employees had silently endured harassment and were afraid to speak out against the abuses inflicted by male colleagues of different religions.
The report indicated that the accused had established effective control over the IT company’s office and targeted young and vulnerable girls. Complaints were validated, revealing that the accused had indeed perpetrated harassment and sexual exploitation.
The report also stated that the accused insulted Hindu mythology, beliefs, and traditions, intimidating girls by claiming that Islam was superior to Hinduism. They belittled Hinduism and created a repressive atmosphere through repeated anti-Hindu remarks.
This corroborates the female employees’ claims that they feared filing complaints for two main reasons: the fear of social stigma and the absence of a robust grievance redressal mechanism within the company.
Upon a thorough investigation into these ‘inhumane’ practices, the team found that the TCS Nashik center was under the control of the accused—Danish, Tauseef, and Raza Menon—who were allegedly protected by Ashwini Chainani. Any employee who spoke out faced professional retaliation, while the HR department remained completely silent and oblivious to the complaints.
The women’s panel has recommended that the relevant authorities and TCS management take appropriate action in this matter and ensure strict compliance with legal safety measures for the protection, dignity, and safety of female employees in the workplace.
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