Women’s Safety at Workplace in Indian Academia: An Unavoidable Marker for True Sustainability

Abstract

The growing lack of safety at workplaces has emerged as a critical concern in the academic ecosystem in India. While universities and research institutions are traditionally regarded as spaces of knowledge creation and intellectual freedom, the lived realities of women often reflect structural vulnerabilities and unsafe conditions. Women’s safety in Indian academic institutions which are generally brushed under the carpet through victim silencing, affects not only individual well-being but also institutional sustainability, equity and credibility. Despite the enactment of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (PoSH Act) and the Vishakha Guidelines (1997), systemic challenges persist in reporting, redressal, and cultural acceptance of gender equity. This paper synthesizes current literature, policy frameworks, and case studies to analyse the socio-cultural, institutional, and intersectional factors contributing to sexual harassment in Indian higher education. Using gendered organizational theory, intersectionality, and sustainability frameworks, it examines the implications of unsafe academic environments for talent retention, diversity, and institutional credibility. Policy recommendations focus on strengthening Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs), fostering cultural change, and aligning academic practices with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). The study argues that women’s safety is not merely a compliance issue but an essential marker of sustainable academic growth. Secondary method have been used for data collection for the purpose of the paper.