WOMEN DEVELOPMENT CELL (WDC):
The Women Development Cell (WDC) aims to promote gender equality, empower women, and ensure a safe and supportive environment within the institution. It addresses issues related to women’s rights, safety, health, and personal development through awareness programs, workshops, and counselling sessions. The cell encourages leadership, confidence, and self-reliance among female students and staff while ensuring compliance with legal and institutional policies for women’s welfare.
The Women Development Cell (WDC) operates as the developmental, preventative, and promotional arm of gender equity efforts — distinct from the ICC, which handles formal complaint investigation. The WDC’s mandate is shaped by the UGC (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of Sexual Harassment of Women Employees and Students in HEIs) Regulations, 2015, the POSH Act, 2013, and NEP 2020’s gender-inclusion goals, focusing on sensitization, infrastructure, wellness, and legal empowerment rather than adjudication.
Rules & Regulations
1) Clear separation from ICC — The WDC handles gender sensitization, policy advocacy, and campus safety promotion, while the ICC exclusively handles formal complaint inquiries and disciplinary recommendations under POSH — the two must not be conflated.
2) Gender-inclusive infrastructure mandate — The WDC must ensure well-lit transit pathways (no dark stretches), adequate female security personnel, and functional restrooms equipped with sanitary pad vending machines and incinerators.
3) Mandatory wellness programming — The WDC must run targeted programs on metabolic/hormonal health, menstrual hygiene, and mental resilience (anxiety, stress-related disorders) — not just event management.
4) Legal literacy collaboration — The cell is required to host legal literacy workshops in collaboration with DLSA/SLSA (District/State Legal Service Authorities), plus promote gender-inclusive curricula and female leadership under NEP 2020.
5) Grievance visibility (not resolution) — The WDC must ensure visible display of helpline numbers, counselor availability, and maintain secure, discreet complaint/suggestion boxes — while actual complaints are routed to the ICC.
6) Mandatory composition with 50% women rule — Chaired by the Principal, with a woman Convener, 2–3 teaching representatives (mixed gender), 1–2 non-teaching staff, 1 external NGO/expert, and 2–3 student representatives; at least 50% of total membership must be women.
7) Three-year term with meeting frequency — Nominated members serve a 3-year term, with the committee required to hold at least 2–3 meetings per academic term, with duly signed minutes.
8) Audit documentation requirements — The WDC must maintain an Annual Action Plan (gender-sensitization calendar), meeting minutes, and Gender Audit documentation tracking facility upkeep and structural safety measures for IQAC/LIC/university affiliation reviews.