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'I was facing gender bias'

Updated on: 20 September,2010 08:08 AM IST  | 
Astha Saxena |

Budding doctor, who had claimed harassment and ragging by seniors of her institute, speaks exclusively to MiD DAY about her travails

'I was facing gender bias'

Budding doctor, who had claimed harassment and ragging by seniors of her institute, speaks exclusively to MiD DAY about her travails




What is the situation now? What decision have the authorities taken?
The issue is over. An FIR has been lodged. The institute authorities have handed over the matter to the National Anti-Ragging Committee. Also, according to the recommendations of the University Grants Commission (UGC), I have been shifted to a different unit.

Tell us what exactly happened with you?
The seniors in my department were misbehaving with me. They used to ask questions related to my personal life and other things which I cannot speak about. I was basically facing gender bias.u00a0 I was the only woman in the unit and the men there would ask me to do their work as well.

What made you decide to take this step? Had you ever complained about this earlier?
I had discussed the issue with my unit in-charge. He would always sympathise with me but never took any serious action. This time, the culprits even started molesting me, which I could not accept and I refused to do their work. I have filed a complaint against the seniors (Dr Swapan and Dr Midesh) with the college authorities.

Did anyone from the department support you on the issue?
No. All the other male colleagues in my department were completely against me.u00a0 But, I didn't expect anything from them as I was well aware they would not help me. Only my friends at the hostel supported me.

Are other girls at the institute also facing problems?
Yes they are. But, they don't want to come forward as they are afraid of jeopardising their future.

What are the other problems faced by the medical students?
We are all made to work a lot. Sometimes we are forced to do the work which has been assigned to the seniors. As a first year student, it's very hard to refuse them.

Are you happy about being shifted to a different unit?
I am extremely happy and I hope to have a good working environment here.

RAGGING MENACE
MiD DAY had earlier reported about the ragging incident in the college. Dr Shweta Arora in a written complaint to the UGC had alleged that a group of five seniors from her department had been "ragging" her. The UGC referred the matter to the college's anti-ragging squad.
The Dean Dr AK Agarwal has constituted an anti-ragging committee of three members comprising Dr Veena Choudhary, Dr Swaraj Batra and Dr Richa Diwan to look into the incident. "It was brought to our notice on Monday. We formed a fact finding committee the same day and on Tuesday after they submitted a report, we forwarded it to the apex committee. The next course of action will depend on the report that is expected to be submitted by this week," said Dr Agarwal.
Meanwhile, the victim had disappeared from the scene after the matter came to light.

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