716 workshops on gender awareness programmes conducted in colleges in 2020-21: MoS

NEW DELHI: 716 workshops on gender awareness programmes were conducted in the colleges in the year 2020-21 under the University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulations 2015, the Minister of State for Education Subhas Sarkar said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

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UGC Human Resource Development Centres (HRDCs) conduct refresher courses and/or short term courses on Gender Sensitization for teachers. In the year 2020-21, 35 HRDCs conducted these courses on Gender Sensitization. Along with that, the UGC HRDCs conduct a faculty induction programme for all newly recruited teachers, the minister said.

UGC has issued advisory to all universities, colleges to conduct gender awareness programmes to sensitise the students and employees about the provisions of the sexual harassment of women at work place (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.

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UGC has also notified University Grants Commission (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of sexual harassment of women employees and students in higher educational institutions) Regulations, 2015.

Meanwhile, UGC has urged all higher education institutions to observe ‘Matribhasha Diwas’ on February 21. The Commission has asked colleges, universities to organize activities such as elocution, debate, singing, painting, essay writing competitions, music and dramatic performances, exhibitions with all COVID-19 protocols in place to celebrate the occasion.