Breaking the silence on campus safety

Schools and colleges are meant to be places of learning, growth, and empowerment. Yet, incidents of sexual harassment and assault involving young women continue to occur—in classrooms, laboratories, hostels, and even online. Some cases also occur off campus, where staff members exploit students’ trust. Wherever they occur, these acts are deeply troubling and unacceptable.

Across India, recent incidents have underscored this persistent problem. In Bengaluru, a department head was accused of behaving inappropriately with a student at his residence. Near Delhi, a self-styled godman leading an educational organisation allegedly sent inappropriate messages to students.

In Kolkata, the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College in August 2024 sparked nationwide outrage. Tamil Nadu has also reported several cases of teachers engaging in misconduct with students.

Teachers are often regarded as mentors and parental figures — people entrusted to guide and protect. Yet, stories of abuse within educational settings are disturbingly common. Many victims remain silent. A 2024 survey found that nearly 10% of students had experienced sexual assault within their institutions, but only 16% of them filed formal complaints. Many institutions underreport such cases to protect their reputation, thereby widening the gap between the actual number of incidents and official data. This silence allows offenders to continue unchecked.

How young women can stay aware

Recognising boundaries: Understand what is acceptable in verbal, non-verbal, physical, and digital interactions. Early awareness helps identify when a line has been crossed.

Documenting evidence: Keep records, screenshots, dates, times, and witness names where possible. These details can support reporting and investigation.

Seeking peer support: Avoid isolated or private meetings with staff or others. If requested, bring a peer along and inform friends or family.

Learning self-defence and assertiveness: Basic self-defence skills and confidence in saying “no” can be valuable both now and later in life.

Practising online safety: Avoid sharing personal details, photos, or contact information online. Block or report anyone who behaves inappropriately.

If you experience harassment, remember: you are not responsible for someone else’s actions. Speak up to your family, friends, or counsellor. Report incidents to your institution’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC). If the matter is serious, file a police complaint. Seek counselling and medical support—helplines and NGOs in every state can assist you. Reporting not only protects you but also helps prevent others from facing the same harm. Every student deserves to learn in a safe, respectful, and supportive environment.

A note to institutions

The University Grants Commission (UGC) mandates all higher education institutions to establish an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. The ICC must handle complaints, conduct gender-sensitivity training, maintain confidentiality, and file annual compliance reports.

Institutions must inform students about anti-harassment policies during orientation, display helpline numbers and ICC contact details, and provide safe infrastructure—including well-lit corridors, secure hostels, trained counsellors, and functioning grievance mechanisms. Yet, many institutions fail to meet these requirements or conceal complaints to avoid scrutiny. Transparency and swift response are crucial to rebuilding trust.

Creating a secure campus is not optional—it is fundamental to the idea of education itself. Empowering women begins with ensuring that they feel safe, heard, and respected. Only then can true learning and equality thrive.

(The author is an academic)