DU students hold rally against harassment at women’s college fest, call for principal’s resignation

Delhi University students staged a rally at the north campus on Thursday to demand justice for alleged victims of harassment during a cultural festival at Indraprastha College for Women last week.

The rally was led by the All India Students Association (AISA) and attended by Krantikari Yuva Sangathan (KYS) activists.

The protesting students called for the resignation of Poonam Kumria, the principal of the Indraprastha College for Women, and accused the IPCW and DU administrations of being “apathetic” and repressing the movement of women students.

AISA President Abhigyan said that more than 300 students marched the length of north campus demanding justice for IPCW. The students submitted a memorandum to the DU Vice-Chancellor demanding the dismissal of the IPCW principal.

In a statement, the KYS said that instead of taking immediate action on the demands of the protesting women students and activists, the DU and IPCW administrations have been “adamant in their apathy.”

The IPCW administration formed a disciplinary committee and asked students to come forward with their complaints, but it is alleged that the committee is intimidating students and teachers and victimizing the students who are leading the movement against the IPCW administration.

The DU administration has formed a five-member committee to investigate the issue of sexual harassment at the IPCW cultural festival.

However, the KYS emphasized that both of these committees cannot deal with cases of sexual harassment, which can only be investigated by the Internal Complaints Committee as per the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013.

The KYS also stated that if a formal complaint is lodged by the college authorities, the police can also look into the issue of sexual harassment.

The rally at the north campus of Delhi University is just one of the many student-led protests in recent times, demanding justice for victims of harassment and assault in educational institutions across the country.

It highlights the urgent need for authorities to take prompt and effective action to address the issue of sexual harassment in educational institutions and create a safer and more inclusive environment for students. (With inputs from PTI)