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The findings of the foundation on 'Women Safety and Security Budgets for 2013-14' found that some of the corporates have hiked their budgets to the extent of 65% based on the responses received from executives representing more than 2,500 small, medium and large businesses between January to February 2013 from places like Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Pune, Dehradun etc. About 89% of the respondents said they are in the process to increase their safety and security budgets for women in the work places.
The survey majorly focused on broad sectors such as BPO, IT/ITeS sector, financial and other services, real estate, hospitality, tourism, FMCG and infrastructure, media & advertising, manufacturing and textiles among others. “The survey reveals that across all big and small companies are likely to increase their budgets this year after horrendous Delhi rape incident which has shaken the confidence of workforce not only in the NCR region but also in other major cities,” says Assocham Secretary General D S Rawat.
The survey further reveals that almost three out of four companies increased their safety and security budgets by 65% this year for safety and security for women, reveals the survey before International Women day on Friday.
Majority of BPO, ITeS firms are conducting workshops in self-defence, while administrative teams have opened shops in office premises to facilitate the sale of pepper spray. Companies either ensure that a male security guard drops women employees if they are travelling alone or drivers are not allowed to deviate from the travel plan and a security guard has a walky-talky which is always switched on and maintain regular contacts with the transport department.
“The industry is acutely conscious of the need for stringent safety measures and precautions to guarantee the protection of women employees. As part of its annual training schedules, the company's business services division proposes to conduct workshops in self-defence. Administrative teams have opened shops in office premises to facilitate the sale of pepper spray. It will also enhance their productivity and boost their confidence,” said majority of the BPO/ITeS firms.
The companies like BPO/ITeS who have shifts have come up with multi-level safety measures to ensure such incidences are avoided in the future. They run late night cabs at scheduled times. Routes and every cab is registered with the transport department and each vehicle has a security guard in it who accompanies the lady employee to the doorstep, points out the survey.
Several IT/ITES companies in Delhi-NCR have formed “sexual harassment committee” that investigates complaints against cab drivers and share concerns related to employee. As part of an awareness programme, drivers are mandated to follow certain rules. Any deviation results in stringent action against the driver and the third party vendor.
