Employment to Bedevilment- The Indian Workspace Story

Of the things that is trending on media platforms today, two of them stand out- the Kolkata rape and murder case and the findings of the Hema Committee report in Kerala. Both are different yet are the same- a clarion call for India to have stringent laws for protecting women at their workplaces. The gruesome death of a medical student after her thirty-six-hour shift was not enough that we had to hear revelations of horrible working conditions for female artistes in an industry which apparently produces progressive cinema!

While I am all heart to the demonstrations “demanding justice” or “naming and shaming the abusers,” I am not here to talk about that. There is enough of that in social, print and mass media. I feel elated that as a society we are enraged on hearing such things and express our outrage openly. However, we need to understand that though as citizens we have the right to protest what we feel is wrong, that is not the end of our problem. We must channelize that into effective and meaningful solutions. The very fact that the central government denied creating a new law for protecting healthcare workers citing there being “no need” and that “different states have different laws” to address the issue is disheartening and while political parties, both ruling and the opposition are making use of this opportunity to promote their vested interests and politicizing the matter, all of us fail to realise what a grave mistake are we making as a nation. Instead of learning from our shortcomings and ensuring that we have concrete rules on this problem, groups are putting up this façade of doing the ‘right thing.’ 

As the Supreme Court rightly pointed out, as a population of one-point four billion people, we cannot afford to have another Nirbhaya or Abhaya to shake the "conscience of the nation".

Nothing right has ever been done in haste and so is this new law that the West Bengal government is planning to introduce- keeping capital punishment for rape. They hope that this law would largely decrease rapes. While these cosmetic political moves are only to woo the vote bank or a means to appease people and divert them from the incompetence and callous attitude maintained in the beginning, there is no merit in such attempts. The loopholes in this law are a debate for some other time but if the West Bengal government feels that this law will act as a deterrent, then let it be made clear on how futile does it sound. Just a few days after the case were two assault cases registered in the state; that too in government hospitals! I am sure the perpetrators would have heard about the protests and what is going on but still did not hesitate a minute before doing what they did. It simply reiterates my point.  As the Supreme Court rightly pointed out, as a population of one-point four billion people, we cannot afford to have another Nirbhaya or Abhaya to shake the "conscience of the nation". Our traditions equate women to goddesses and the stark reality of women today should force us to introspect on where we stand and reflect on the practices that we pride ourselves in.

As per the 2019 McKinsey report, a significant proportion of women in India, specifically 35%, have contemplated either leaving or temporarily halting their careers due to experiences of harassment.

The consequences of workplace harassment are varied and complex. Not only does it affect a woman individually resulting in severe emotional or physical distress, but also in other spheres. Workplaces act as areas of innovation, creation, and development. Ideas flow and connect here and for more effective and composite exchanges, individuals must feel secure and assured of the bare minimums. If professionals are violated in such spaces, it can lead to lower job satisfaction and hinder career growth. According to the 2019 McKinsey report, 35% of women in India have thought about leaving or halting their careers because of harassment. Forget the gender quotient, if our lawmakers fail to realize the gravity of the situation where 32% of its workforce is unsafe and threatened, imagine the economic loss we would have to bear. Climate catastrophes have impacted economies in an unprecedented manner that it would have to face added loss because of something which could otherwise be mitigated. It costs India $6 to $10 billion each year due to its effects on labor force participation and productivity, as per the World Bank estimates. By not introducing reforms, we are normalizing a culture of violence and unsafe working environment thereby undermining dignity and empowerment.

I wonder how India plans on maintaining the momentum of increasing its workforce when it does not have a proper framework to safeguard around 409 million people!

Call the #MeToo movement a sham or say that you are not interested because this does not affect you, but while you say so, do not forget that this is an issue that can affect any one of us. Dismissing them only highlights our collective failure to address important opportunities within reach. I do not want an executive group to resign, taking "moral responsibility," and wash their hands off, covering their own work despite not doing a thing when they had a chance. While India looks up to its young population, making up the workforce in the coming years and sees itself as the next superpower on one hand, and pushing initiatives for women to pursue education and take up employment for a living on the other, I wonder how it plans on maintaining that momentum when it does not have a proper framework to safeguard around 409 million people. Now, that is some food for thought!