To,

Mr. Fayyaz Shehryar - Director General

All India Radio (AIR) station

Obra city, Uttar Pradesh

UPDATE: 13 JUNE 2019

Coordinated public pressure forced All India Radio (AIR) to reopen a three year old sexual harassment case! 

Thanks to consistent actions from Jhatkaa.org members and timely intervention by the National Commission for Women, Shanti Verma was able to get a second investigation on her case. You can further help us by making a contribution to enable us to sustain pressure on All India Radio. 

This milestone is important, but not the end. We need to stand guard to ensure that Prevention of Sexual Health Act (POSHA) guidelines are thoroughly followed in the renewed investigation. Shanti’s career, mental and emotional health are at stake. 

We’ve done it in the past, and we know we can do it again! Sexual harassment needs to be called out, and with your help we can continue to work towards zero tolerance. 

DATE: 16 APRIL 2019

A veteran radio jockey has been out of work for the last three years. Why? Because she spoke up about being sexually harassed at her work station.

All India Radio (AIR) employee Shanti Verma complained of sexual harassment at her workplace in Obra, UP on two occasions in 2010 and 2016. She filed FIRs and ran from pillar to post to get her complaints taken seriously. But the response of the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) left her feeling shocked.

Shanti is now resolved to sit on fast unto death until justice is served. She can do with our support in ensuring her complaint is taken seriously.   

“I had been on night duty for a while, and I remember that it was the night before Holi. While I was in the midst of a transmission, the DO, Srikrishna, walked in and started playing a CD – which turned out to be a ‘blue film’. When I recoiled in shock, he placed his hand on my thigh and asked for a kiss.”

It is not easy to share details about sexual harassment. Shanti is a brave woman for opening up about her experience. The ICC investigation let all the perpetrators save one, the guard, off the hook. And barred Shanti from her work. The National Commission for Women revealed that AIR and Prasar Bharati are known for victim-shaming and penalising complainants. This is unacceptable.

We have seen time and again that when citizens like you and I rally our support behind women like Shanti, the institutions are forced to take sexual harassment seriously.

Complainants are shamed and intimidated because they appear powerless, but our collective action can change that. Do sign this petition asking AIR to reopen the ICC investigation.

All Shanti wants is that the investigation is reopened, the perpetrators are punished and she gets her job back.

Let’s get together and support her. No woman should have to sit on hunger strike for demanding a fair and independent investigation.

Sources:

Officials Stop AIR Employee From Fasting Outside Prasar Bharati -- The Quint

‘Cried as I Ate’: Shanti Verma on Breaking Fast Against Harassment - The Quint