Slow progress to creating a safe workplace for women

Context:

Unless society works incessantly to change the prevalent socio-cultural and economic structures, it could well be status quo.

The Background:

• In a recent case of sexual harassment of sportswomen, the victims had to demonstrate a protest to get their voices herd and highlighting the non-functioning of internal committee.
• The Vishaka guidelines on reporting harassment are meant to be followed by government and private institutions equally.
• A specific offence relating to ‘sexual harassment’ (under Section 354-A) was inserted in the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in 2013, the allegations largely fell under Section 509 (i.e., to insult the modesty of a woman) of the IPC.