JOIN USSexual harassment of a woman scientist and the alleged inaction by the top brass of the Patancheru-based dry land agricultural research organisation, ICRISAT (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics) has come to light, stirring a hornets’ nest in the research community of Hyderabad.
According to reports, a woman scientist who was sexually harassed by her boss served a legal notice on the management claiming there was no proper inquiry into her complaint, even though she was assured of action as per laid out norms.
The scientist has accused ICRISAT of hushing up the issue by delaying action on the culprit. The victim says that ICRISAT didn’t even initiate mandatory actions prescribed by law such as ensuring a woman member in the commission and the presence of a representative of a neutral NGO. The victim had actually complained to the ICRISAT governing body on sexual harassment a year ago in January 2013.
Denying inaction, ICRISAT issued a press release on Friday, in which it confirmed the harassment and said “ICRISAT management has taken appropriate action in this case. The person concerned has apologised to the complainant and the apology was accepted by the complainant.