Sammaan: A Workshop at St. Xavier's College, Jaipur, November 24-26, 2021

Sammaan Report

by Vasundhara Purawat, St. Xavier's College, Jaipur

From 24 November to 26 November 2021, Gender Study and Women’s Cell and Anti-Sexual Harassment Cell of St. Xavier’s College, Jaipur, organised “Sammaan”, a National Workshop on Harassment, in collaboration with Prajnya Trust. The resource person for the workshop was Dr. Swarna Rajagopalan, an Indian political scientist, and founder and director of Prajnya Trust, a non-profit organisation based in Chennai.

The workshop opened with highlights of Prajnya Trust’s works in the field of research, public education, and networking. Rev. Fr. Dr. Arokya Swami, SJ, Manager, addressed the gathering. The virtual stage was then taken over by Dr. Swarna Rajagopalan, who explained the thematic issues and also gave several interactive and interesting activities to the students.

The workshop observed a good number of students nationwide, making it a connective and enlightening experience. The platform provided students with an important opportunity to learn about the nuances of this taboo topic which is often sidelined. The joint effort by Gender Study and Women’s Cell and Anti-Sexual Harassment Cell made an indelible mark, setting the bar high for future workshops at St. Xavier’s College, Jaipur.

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As part of the workshop, the students made short videos of scenarios of sexual harassment and abuse, offering model solutions and responses. The Samaan playlist is available here.

Day 15: The Blue Pencil Workshop | @NWM_India , @ranjim & @rgmlk

    On the 15th day of the 2020 Prajnya 16 Days Campaign Against Gender Violence, we organised The Blue Pencil Workshop, a partnership with Network of Women In Media, India, conducted by Ragamalika Karthikeyan and Ranjitha Gunasekaran.

The online workshop focussed on how one should report gender based violence sensitively. Here are a few points that were discussed in detail during the workshop:

Ragamalika Karthikeyan:

• "Violence happens against cisgender women, children, LGBTIQ+ people and those who dont follow the gender stereotypes and manifests in various forms."
• "Why should we, as journalists, cover GBV? The answer is obvious; because it is a symptom of an unhealthy society. So, we have a duty to cover the discrimination that exists in the society since it is concerning human rights."
• "When we say 'covering GBV', what does it mean? The most basic thing that comes to mind is reporting instances, reporting that rape happened, or a person was sexually abused or that a person faced workplace sexual harassment. But, it is not enough to say something has happened. That the Hathras rape has happened or the Jyoti Singh rape happened. It is important to look at the causes, why it is happening, what the larger context is - especially, the caste or the gender context."
• "One must avoid describing graphic violence.....because it adds to the dehumanising of the marginalised people. For you and me, it can be a story happening somewhere to somebody. But, the person you are writing about- their family, friends and the community are going to be triggered for a very long time. And, by describing the graphic violence, you're adding another layer of trauma to what they are already going through."
• "When we report about LGBTQ+ people, often, we don't talk about rights, about people protesting for their rights or what is it that they want in their policies. We only talk about violent crimes or celebration, parades and colours, which is condescending."

Ranjitha Gunasekaran:

• "Reporting GBV is essential because there is a differential access to resources and opportunities. A person, because of their gender identity or sexual orientation, loses out on going to school, is fed less food, or their study time is spent doing household chores, and often, a reduced access to economic opportunities."
• "Often, people go by the police version of an incident. But, we often forget that the cops are humans, too and they carry the same biases as everyone else in the society. They reproduce the violence in a lot of subtle forms. So, it is important to reach out to the community. It is not a bias if one questions the version of the cops. It is upholding the truth to mention context and to know that authorities tell lies."
• "The only way to put pressure on a system to ensure it works is to track the system."

    The discussion looked into various reportages Ragamalika Karthikeyan and Ranjitha Gunasekaran had come across. They mentioned that it was necessary to find a story in the process of reporting. The workshop also looked into discussing child sexual abuse and ways to report the same. Multiple questions concerning how one should report incidents of violence concerning LGBTQ+ folks and non-binary individuals came up. Ragamalika responded by saying that one should be aware of the terminologies used, especially for queer and non-binary folks. The reporting has to be done in a language that is not condescending and does not disregard their lived experiences. 

You can find the The Blue Pencil: Reporting gender based violence sensitively: Resources for journalists here.

Day 9 -- pre-natal sex determination survey

Earlier this morning, Prajnya, in partnership with the Centre for Social Policy and Strategy (www.csps.co) and the Madras School of Social Work (MSSW, www.mssw.in), conducted a workshop for 20 graduate students from MSSW. After the workshop, students will carry out surveys across seven zones in the city to assess awareness of sex determination laws and practices among staff at diagnostic clinics.

What Laws govern Prenatal Sex Determination in India?

The Pre-conception and Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994 governs Prenatal Sex Determination in India. It was enacted to stop female foeticides and to alter the declining sex ratio in India. The act banned prenatal sex determination.

What does the Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994 say?The main purpose of enacting the act is to ban the use of sex selection techniques before or after conception and prevent the misuse of prenatal diagnostic technique for sex selective abortion. By this act, the offenses are listed as including the conducting or helping in the conduct of prenatal diagnostic technique in the unregistered units, sex selection on a man or woman, conducting PND test for any purpose other than the one mentioned in the act, sale, distribution, supply, renting etc. of any ultra sound machine or any other equipment capable of detecting sex of the foetus.

The Act prohibits sex selection, both, before or after conception. It regulates the use of pre-natal diagnostic techniques, like ultrasound and amniocentesis. These methods, by this act, are allowed to be used only to detect genetic abnormalities, metabolic disorders, chromosomal abnormalities, certain congenital malformations, haemoglobinopathies and sex linked disorders. By the act, no laboratory or centre or clinic should conduct any test including ultrasonography for the purpose of determining the sex of the foetus; and, no person, including the one who is conducting the procedure as per the law, will communicate the sex of the foetus to the pregnant woman or her relatives by words, signs or any other method. Any person who puts an advertisement for pre-natal and pre-conception sex determination facilities in the form of a notice, circular, label, wrapper or any document, or advertises through interior or other media in electronic or print form or engages in any visible representation made by means of hoarding, wall painting, signal, light, sound, smoke or gas, can be imprisoned for up to three years and fined Rs. 10,000.

What does the Indian Penal Code, 1860 say?

The Indian Penal Code does not criminalize sex selection. However, it punishes foeticide under Sections 315 and 316. Section 315 addresses any act done with intent to prevent a child being born alive or to cause it to die after birth, while Section 316 addresses the causing of the death of a quick unborn child. Both offenses are penalized with imprisonment up to ten years, with or without fine.

A special thanks to Kirthi Jayakumar who contributed to this article. Kirthi is a lawyer who is specialized in Public International Law and Human Rights. She runs a journal and consultancy that focuses on International Law, called A38. http://www.athirtyeight.com/

Day 1: Gender violence and Social Work

And before we know, its 25 November again. The first day of the third edition of the Prajnya 16 Days Campaign against Gender Violence.

We'd decided to begin the campaign with a workshop for social work students, in partnership with the Madras School of Social Work. So 2pm, and we're in a room with 70 MSW students, including some from other colleges in Chennai. I was very happy to see that there were more young men than women in the room, and was really hoping I'd be able to keep them awake, interested and thinking about the issue.

First up, a brief introduction to Prajnya and the campaign, and most importantly, the answer to that frequently asked question: why do you do this campaign? Next, several 'activities' to get the group thinking about gender violence: a word association game, a drawing exercise, a quick group discussion. I then switched over the lecture mode briefly, highlighting some key conceptual issues, clarifying definitions (gender violence v/s violence against women, for instance), and discussing the many forms of violence.

One hour in, and it was Namitha's turn to take over. As a social work graudate herself, Namitha was really best places to discuss some practical, real-life situations with the group, drawing on her own experiences. What do you say to someone who asks you if your vocational training programme will help her earn more than she did as a sex worker? What do you say to doctors and nurses who don't even realise or document burn injuries inflicted on a wife by her husband? How do you help a woman who has been raped by her father get an abortion if your personal faith says its the wrong thing to do? The objective was to illustrate that you just can't find some answers in the classroom.

My turn again, and this time, we moved on to discussing the specific role of a social worker in addressing gender violence. I was keen to emphasise a few key points: that no matter what kind of organisation they joined after graduation, this would be relevant, it isn't just a women's issue; that they would have direct opportunities to help those who'd experienced violence and therefore ought to make sure they knew their facts and used the right vocabulary; and that they needed to understand the importance of keeping careful records, of respecting privacy and confidentiality, and above all, prioritising safety.

Several questions, some with easy others, others that didn't have any. But all in all, a wonderful day, and a great beginning to the 2010 campaign!

2009 Campaign PR (7/12 & 8/12):Gender Sensitisation & Workplace Sexual Harassment: A Training of Trainers

Chennai: It is often an issue that is constantly pushed under the carpet in sleek glass and steel buildings. But studies that have been conducted show that Workplace Sexual Harassment is a gnawing problem in today’s corporate world. As part of their 16 Days Campaign against Gender Violence, Prajnya, a Chennai-based centre for research, networking and public education, in partnership with Avtar I-Win, conducted a 2-day workshop on Gender Sensitization and Workplace Sexual Harassment, here on Monday and Tuesday.

Facilitated by Usha BN and Indhu Subramaniam from Bangalore-based Hengasara Hakkina Sangha, the workshop threw light on various facets of gender, sexuality and harassment, while elaborating on the difference between sex and social constructs, myths on sexual harassment and boundaries of sexual expression. Role play exercises, focus group discussions, presentations and visual aids were some of the elements used to steer the workshop on the first day. “There is a huge responsibility on employers, to help minimise gender bias in the workplace,” said Indhu. One needs to understand sexuality, power and gender before orienting themselves on sexual harassment laws, she added.

The second day of the workshop called for enhanced participation from the delegates, as they were required to present solutions to case studies and brainstorm on the legal aspects of sexual harassment in work places. “Cases of sexual harassment are complex as there are caste and class variables attached to them, which makes dealing with them difficult,” said Usha. “There is a need to recognize situations where sexual harassment may potential arise,” she explained.

The vibrant and participative audience, included human resources professionals, team managers and social workers. “We must not stop discussing this issue after this workshop. We will advocate for more follow-up sessions and guidance to set up Sexual Harassment Complaints’ Committee in our own offices,” expressed a participant.

2009 Campaign PR (2/12 & 3/12):Exploring Gender Violence through theatre

For some 20 odd girls from Queen Mary’s College, Wednesday and Thursday have been about rediscovering their bodies, differentiating male gaze and societal gaze from what they really want, and in general dabbling in theatre with facilitators Mangai, Sumathi and Srijith from the Marappachi Trust.

“The workshop was largely about tapping collective experience, and providing a space for perceptions on body,” said Mangai. Exercises included role plays, body warm-ups, and even mock fashion shows. It was learning by doing, as the girls themselves realised after some exercises that it was largely patriarchal laws that governed many rules about the female body.

Even puppetry, recitation, story telling and monologues were used to get some key points across on issues like dowry and skin colour. The workshop culmininated on Thursday evening, as the girls split into groups and presented three sketches on various facets of violence against women, including female infanticide and forced marriage. That, “Women’s rights is Human rights” was the take home message at the end of the workshop.

The two-day workshop was part of the 16 Days Campaign against Gender Violence organised by Prajnya, a Chennai-based centre for public education, networking and research. “This year, many of our programmes revolve around popular art forms like theatre, poetry and music,” said Anupama Srinivasan, Campaign Coordinator, Prajnya.

2009 Campaign PR (25/11): Fighting domestic violence, together

Chennai, November 25: “We should not let ourselves be controlled by men and should spread the word about domestic violence in any way we can,” said Suguna. She was one of the sixty-five women from Self-Help Groups across the city who attended the ‘Responding to domestic violence’ workshop organised by Prajnya, in association with the International Foundation for Prevention of Crime and Victim Care (PCVC) and Sornammal Educational Trust on Wednesday.


Discussion, queries, answers and suggestions dominated Day One of Prajnya’s 16-day campaign against gender violence. The interactive session covered a range of topics such as the components of domestic violence, different forms of violence within the family, forms of threat and control and how affected women could speak up against it. Male chauvinism, archaic traditions and a male-dominated outlook in parenting style focussing on the preferences and dictates of the father of the family were discussed as contributing to the prevalence of domestic violence.
The importance of trust in a relationship and mutual respect for each other’s feelings and opinions were highlighted over the two-hour session. “The solution to a case of domestic violence is not by abandoning the husband or the family; it is to learn how to face it,” Bhuvana, Welfare Officer, PCVC, told the women gathered at the SET Centre at Vyasarpadi. A large part of the session also revolved around the effect of domestic violence on children within the family, in terms of adversely affecting their social behaviour and concentration and performance in school.


Parimala, a participant, felt it was the responsibility of women aware of the problem to intervene and help others suffering from violence. Women were also informed about PCVC’s 24-hr helpline 43111143 over which they could personally speak to a counsellor to discuss their problems. “This session has made many women aware of the existence of the helpline, which will be useful to them,” said K. Murali, Project Manager, Vyasarpadi Project Area.
The women also dropped off their ideas on how to combat domestic violence into a ‘paanai’ as part of Prajnya’s Collaborative Cooking initiative. Participation certificates were awarded to the women at the end of the session.

Exploring Gender Violence through Theatre

Catwalks. Rhyme. Couplets. Role plays. Skits.Puppetry.

Wednesday & Thursday was about letting go, rediscovering bodies and staring back at the male gaze for 23 chirpy girls from Queen Mary's College.

Mangai, Srijith and Sumathi from Marappachi Trust were the star facilitators as some of the girls discovered a hidden talent: acting!

Day 7: A workshop on Public Health

It was an early day on Day 7, as the team went all the way to Avadi for a workshop in Omayal Achi College of Nursing on "Public Health and Gender Violence", attended by around 40 budding nurses from the III B.Sc Nursing Class.

The two charming ladies, Dr.Prasanna and Nancy from PCVC and Tulir respectively, were the facilitators , and were superb with their presentations, films and anecdotes.

What was established?

• Injuries/ health complications arising out of gender violence is a genuine public health concern.
• Health care officials like doctors and nurses have a huge role to play during the process of treatment to a victim of gender violence.
• Nurses are the first point of contact in the case of a medical emergency, and awareness of gender violence, can go a long way in facilitating treatment, and later, recovery.

Day One: Responding to Domestic Violence

Day One of the campaign. Excitement, anticipation and slight nervousness...the Prajyna team was all set to kickstart the campaign after months of planning. The first event - a workshop for women from Self-Help Groups, in partnership with the International Foundation for Crime Prevention and Victim Care and Sornammal Educational Trust, at Vyasarpadi. Around 65 women participated in a 3-hr interactive session on domestic violence, its manifestations, forms, measures to counter violence at home and its effect on children in the family.