Sexual abuse is on the rise in city colleges

More than half of female students report abuse in survey of colleges

MUMBAI: Nineteen-year-old commerce student Ameeshi Khanna steers clear of her college staff room. This was where she was sexually harassed by her principal three months ago. She recalls the events that led to the traumatic incident. After failing in two subjects, she was asked to report to the principal.

“I was to go with the other students at 11am, but as I was unable to make it, I met him at 5pm. By then, most of the teachers had left for the day. The principal initially yelled at me and threatened to call my parents, but when I started crying, he came to console me… and then began fondling my breasts.”

It was only after weeks of counselling and reassurances from her teachers that she resumed attending lectures in the suburban college. But what happened to Khanna was not a stray incident, not according to a recent study on sexual harassment in Mumbai’s colleges conducted by Akshara, a city-based NGO.

According to the report, 61 per cent of the 533 female students interviewed had been sexually harassed in colleges, either by their peers or by staff. It’s not just girls who are being victimised. More than half of the 327 male students interviewed also admitted to having been sexually harassed during their college years.  

The researchers spoke to students from 44 city colleges in South Mumbai, Western and Central suburbs, and Navi Mumbai, which included academic institutions like St Andrews, KC, St Xavier’s and Somaiya Colleges. The findings also revealed that 66.7 per cent of the male students admitted to have sexually harassed their victims ‘just for fun’.

Dr Nandita Gandhi, co-director of Akshara said: “Sexual harassment can range from eve-teasing to molestation and rape. A majority of the victims are females, while most of the male students are perpetrators.” The study stated that almost all the female students resort to absenteeism when sexually harassed.

To make matters worse, only 10 per cent of the colleges in the city have Women Development Cells (WDC) to guide and counsel victims of sexual abuse, the report said. “When I questioned the faculty about places where sexual harassment takes place, they mentioned the canteen, college campus and roads leading to the college. But when asked why no steps were taken to make these places safe, they refused to comment,” Gandhi added.

The findings of the study, however, have not gone down well with the principals of some city’s top colleges. Frazer Mascarenhas, principal of St Xavier’s College said: “I refuse to accept that my college is unsafe for female students. Till date, the college has not come across any serious sexual harassment case.” He added that the college has a sexual grievances cell, which holds counselling sessions on sexual awareness.

Kiran Malgaonkar, principal of Mithibai College said: “I think my college is safe as far as sexual harassment is concerned. We do not have a WDC, but the psychology teachers are professional counsellors and students can contact them whenever required.”

But few victims actually turn to professionals for help, or file a formal complaint for that matter. Ara Johannes of Akshara says, “Students are often ridiculed by teachers and parents if they complain. So the victims prefer to keep mum and bear the humiliation alone. This affects their personality as well as their academic performance,”

Take the case of 20-year-old Altaf Sheikh was the victim of sexual bullying in a South Mumbai college. The perpetrators were his peers. Up until a few months ago, Sheikh was regularly taken to the college football field and asked to strip. “My peers were fascinated by my body,” said Sheikh, who added that he weighed about 90kgs. “”It was not about checking me out; they would even bite my chest. The pain was unbearable, and I cried often.”

Sheikh did not complain to the authorities, nor did he turn to any of his teachers for help. “I never mustered the guts to complain because I was scared,” he said.

Neerja Majumudar who works as project co-ordinator at the NGO Majlis says that it is rare to find a case of sexual harassment filed by students. “Sexual harassment does take place in Mumbai colleges. But there are very few complaints filed, and that creates a perception that colleges are free of sexual harassment.”

The police can do little in such cases. While they are aware of sexual harassment and bullying taking place across city campuses, they can’t act until a complaint is filed. Pradeep Suryavanshi, inspector, crime branch, DN Nagar, said: “No case has been filed this year; last year we had one case.” Suryavanshi agrees that counselling centres for the victims are essential. “We lack the expertise to deal with the victims. Sometimes, the cops can be harsh, so it is essential that there are counselling centres in colleges for the victims.”

Akshara’s study is not the first of its kind. In 1999, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) had conducted a similar study. Counsellors said that while a direct comparison between the two reports is not possible, the city has witnessed a rise in sexual harassment in colleges. Asha Bajpai, professor at TISS who conducted the study said, “At that time, 39 per cent of the female students admitted to having been sexually harassed. Over the years the numbers have risen, but at the same time, awareness has also increased.”

Bajpai felt that the absence of WDCs in city colleges could be the reason for an increase in sexual harassment. She said: “Women Development Cells were initiated by the Supreme Court in 1997 to tackle sexual harassment and ragging. But till date, none of the colleges have proper WDCs in place. WDCs are mandatory in colleges. With a counselling centre on campus, victims have the option of not suffering silently.”

The study has come as a shock to students and parents who feel that it is the responsibility of the college to tackle the problem. Minal Tiwari, whose 18-year-old daughter goes to a college in Navi Mumbai, said: “In my time, the college was our second home. Unfortunately, this is not the case anymore. I have cautioned my daughter and I hope that she does not become a victim of any form of harassment.”

The college students this reporter spoke to felt that along with counselling, the best way to tackle the issue would be to increase awareness among students.

(Some names have been changed on request)