Score:
9.5/15
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Topper’s Copy
GS2
Governance
15 marks
Critically examine the limitations of the POSH Act in addressing sexual harassment in educational institutions, especially in cases involving power imbalance and emotional manipulation. Suggest reforms.
Student’s Answer
Evaluation by SuperKalam
Demand of the Question
- Critical examination of POSH Act limitations in educational institutions
- Focus on power imbalance and emotional manipulation issues
- Suggest specific reforms to address identified gaps
What you wrote:
Recent incidents in IIT, NIT, Central universities highlights a 27% rise in campus sexual-harassment cases (2023-24), revealing the POSH Act gaps in addressing power imbalance and emotional manipulation.
[DRAWING: A diamond shape with the text "POSH Act" inside. An arrow points from the top to the text "Defines workplace harassment". An arrow points from the left side to the text "Ensure time bound enquiry". An arrow points from the right side to the text "Mandate internal committee". An arrow points from the bottom to the text "Protects complainant rights".]
Recent incidents in IIT, NIT, Central universities highlights a 27% rise in campus sexual-harassment cases (2023-24), revealing the POSH Act gaps in addressing power imbalance and emotional manipulation.
[DRAWING: A diamond shape with the text "POSH Act" inside. An arrow points from the top to the text "Defines workplace harassment". An arrow points from the left side to the text "Ensure time bound enquiry". An arrow points from the right side to the text "Mandate internal committee". An arrow points from the bottom to the text "Protects complainant rights".]
Suggestions to improve:
- Could strengthen by briefly defining what constitutes power imbalance in academic settings (e.g., supervisor-student relationships where grades, research opportunities, and career prospects are controlled).
What you wrote:
However, Limitations of POSH Act in educational institutions still Persist
- Narrow definition: grooming ignored, Emotional manipulation not legally recognized
- Internal Compliance Committee lacks independence - faculty dominance reduce fairness
- Unawareness: Poor clarity for students about Complaint mechanisms
- Power imbalance unchecked: Guide Controls grade, thesis, funding etc.,
- Slow inquiry process: fear of retaliation during evaluation
- No Interim protection: Accused guide continues supervising
- Weak Mental-Health focus: No trauma support & emotional abuse recognition.
However, Limitations of POSH Act in educational institutions still Persist
- Narrow definition: grooming ignored, Emotional manipulation not legally recognized
- Internal Compliance Committee lacks independence - faculty dominance reduce fairness
- Unawareness: Poor clarity for students about Complaint mechanisms
- Power imbalance unchecked: Guide Controls grade, thesis, funding etc.,
- Slow inquiry process: fear of retaliation during evaluation
- No Interim protection: Accused guide continues supervising
- Weak Mental-Health focus: No trauma support & emotional abuse recognition.
Suggestions to improve:
- Could elaborate on emotional manipulation tactics (e.g., isolation from peer groups, creating dependency through exclusive research opportunities, using academic deadlines as pressure tools).
- Can include specific case studies like the recent Manipal University case or JNU incidents to demonstrate real-world application of these limitations.
What you wrote:
Gaps in POSH Act, how impact on Victims & offenders
| Dimension | Impact on victims | Impact on offenders |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Academic safety | Fear of grades/thesis delay | Continues supervising students |
| 2. Psychological health | Anxiety, manipulation trauma | No deterrence |
| 3. Social isolation | Stigma, fear, withdrawal | Shield by colleagues |
| 4. Reporting confidence | fear due to hierarchy | expect leniency |
| 5. Career path | Dropout or research path | Career unaffected |
| 6. Institutional trust | Lose faith in Internal Compliance Committee | Maintain influence in department |
| 7. Future Vulnerability | Fear repeated harassment | Enable to target multiple victims |
Gaps in POSH Act, how impact on Victims & offenders
| Dimension | Impact on victims | Impact on offenders |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Academic safety | Fear of grades/thesis delay | Continues supervising students |
| 2. Psychological health | Anxiety, manipulation trauma | No deterrence |
| 3. Social isolation | Stigma, fear, withdrawal | Shield by colleagues |
| 4. Reporting confidence | fear due to hierarchy | expect leniency |
| 5. Career path | Dropout or research path | Career unaffected |
| 6. Institutional trust | Lose faith in Internal Compliance Committee | Maintain influence in department |
| 7. Future Vulnerability | Fear repeated harassment | Enable to target multiple victims |
Suggestions to improve:
- Could add specific data on dropout rates among harassment victims (studies show 15-20% higher dropout rates) to quantify academic safety impacts.
- Can include examples of how institutional complicity affects accreditation and rankings (e.g., NAAC assessment criteria now include gender sensitization).
What you wrote:
Reforms needed to overcome these challenges are
- Expand definition to include grooming, manipulation and academic coercion
- Independent Internal Compliance Committee with external expert & gender balance norms
- Anonymous, digital reporting system to ensure confidentiality
- Mandatory supervisor recusal when accused to remove power influence
- Time bound inquiries with strict compliance check
- Counselling and legal support for complainants
- UGC led audits & penalties for non compliant institutions
Reforms needed to overcome these challenges are
- Expand definition to include grooming, manipulation and academic coercion
- Independent Internal Compliance Committee with external expert & gender balance norms
- Anonymous, digital reporting system to ensure confidentiality
- Mandatory supervisor recusal when accused to remove power influence
- Time bound inquiries with strict compliance check
- Counselling and legal support for complainants
- UGC led audits & penalties for non compliant institutions
Suggestions to improve:
- Could specify implementation mechanisms (e.g., mandatory training for 50% ICC members within 6 months, digital platforms integrated with existing university management systems).
- Can reference successful models like Vishakha Guidelines evolution or international best practices from Title IX in US universities.
What you wrote:
A power sensitive, trauma informed safe campus framework aligned with UGC regulation, Justice Verma Committee insights & CEDAW goals - is essential to eliminate hierarchical coercion & emotional manipulation from India's educational spaces.
A power sensitive, trauma informed safe campus framework aligned with UGC regulation, Justice Verma Committee insights & CEDAW goals - is essential to eliminate hierarchical coercion & emotional manipulation from India's educational spaces.
Suggestions to improve:
- Could strengthen by mentioning specific implementation timeline or pilot program approach (e.g., "phased implementation starting with central universities by 2025, followed by state institutions").
Excellent comprehensive analysis with innovative presentation formats and practical reform suggestions. The tabular comparison particularly demonstrates analytical depth, though some suggestions could benefit from more specific implementation details and real-world examples.
Demand of the Question
- Critical examination of POSH Act limitations in educational institutions
- Focus on power imbalance and emotional manipulation issues
- Suggest specific reforms to address identified gaps
What you wrote:
Recent incidents in IIT, NIT, Central universities highlights a 27% rise in campus sexual-harassment cases (2023-24), revealing the POSH Act gaps in addressing power imbalance and emotional manipulation.
[DRAWING: A diamond shape with the text "POSH Act" inside. An arrow points from the top to the text "Defines workplace harassment". An arrow points from the left side to the text "Ensure time bound enquiry". An arrow points from the right side to the text "Mandate internal committee". An arrow points from the bottom to the text "Protects complainant rights".]
Recent incidents in IIT, NIT, Central universities highlights a 27% rise in campus sexual-harassment cases (2023-24), revealing the POSH Act gaps in addressing power imbalance and emotional manipulation.
[DRAWING: A diamond shape with the text "POSH Act" inside. An arrow points from the top to the text "Defines workplace harassment". An arrow points from the left side to the text "Ensure time bound enquiry". An arrow points from the right side to the text "Mandate internal committee". An arrow points from the bottom to the text "Protects complainant rights".]
Suggestions to improve:
- Could strengthen by briefly defining what constitutes power imbalance in academic settings (e.g., supervisor-student relationships where grades, research opportunities, and career prospects are controlled).
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