The Honble WCD ministers comment was quoted in a news report dated Aug 21st 2012 in TOI in which

she stated , I want to get a study conducted to find out what kind of harassment of males is prevalent and to what extent at workplaces, though till now only the harassment suffered by the women has been spoken about," The report goes on to state the below Tirath told reporters here that she had already discussed the issue with her ministry that there should be a study on this because there have been many suggestions that this law could have been gender neutral. Tirath was responding to a question on whether the ministry was looking into aspects related to the problems faced by men at their workplace. "There is no problem in getting a study conducted. Since it is the issue of harassment at workplace, we can get a study conducted," Tirath said. The minister said though her ministry worked primarily for the welfare of women and children, other aspects could also be looked at. "The bill for the protection of women is ready but this study is for the future," Tirath said. The WCD minister hoped Protection of Women against Sexual Harassment at Workplace Bill would be presented in Parliament and passed in the current session itself. The report has been attached as Annexure 1

RTI Questions With reference to Annexure 1 please provide me following information as per the RTI Act. 1. Please provide certified copies of all reports, studies, complaints which are in possession with the WCD ministry in which only harassment of women has been spoken about as has been claimed by the WCD minister through her comment though till now only the harassment suffered by the women has been spoken about" 2. The WCD minister further stated that have been many suggestions that this law could have been gender neutral Please provide all reports, studies, complaints , recommendations and letters which are in possession with the WCD ministry which suggest that the law could have been made gender neutral. 3. The WCD minister stated that There is no problem in getting a study conducted. Since it is the issue of harassment at workplace, we can get a study conducted . Since there is no problem in study getting conducted please provide information on the content of the study , budget allocated for the study , proposed date of commencement and date of conclusion of the study and the members involved in conducting the study. 4. Please state reasons why the WCD minister hoped that the protection of Sexual Harassment at Workplace Bill would be presented in Parliament and passed in the current session itself when the study on harassment of men is still pending?

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