Mumbai: A fact-finding mission by the National Commission for Women (NCW) has uncovered "lapses and irregularities" within the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) framework at a Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) facility in Nashik. The findings suggest a pattern of sexual harassment, psychological duress, and coercive religious conversion targeting female staff.

The four-member panel, tasked with investigating allegations of persecution and religious pressure at the IT firm, reported a series of statutory "violations" that members described as an appalling display of corporate insensitivity.

Failures in Oversight

The commission specifically criticised the functionality of the Internal Committee (IC) responsible for POSH compliance. According to the NCW, the IC was shared between the Pune and Nashik offices, which the report identified as a "direct contravention of the Act." Furthermore, the panel found that no member of the IC had ever conducted an inspection of the Nashik site.

The investigation revealed a total absence of mandatory POSH signage, contact details for committee members, or awareness programs for the workforce.

“No awareness programmes for employees and no orientation programmes for IC members. In short, there was zero compliance of the POSH Act,” the NCW documented.

The commission expressed dismay at the lack of compassion shown by those responsible for employee welfare, stating that the committee had "utterly failed" to meet its legal mandates. "There was no expression of empathy or sympathy for the female employees at TCS Nasik," the report noted.

Allegations of Coercion and Harassment

The NCW initiated its probe following national outcry over reports of forced religious conversions and sexual misconduct at the unit. The resulting two-page document details how female employees allegedly suffered in silence, intimidated by male colleagues of different faiths.

According to the findings, the accused individuals established significant influence within the office to target vulnerable staff. The report confirmed complaints of physical molestation and a hostile environment characterised by religious denigration.

“The accused used to bully female employees by denigrating Hindu mythology, beliefs and traditions and by impressing upon the girls that Islam was a superior religion to Hinduism. The accused used to belittle and degrade Hinduism faith and created a coercive atmosphere through repeated anti-religious commentary,” the report states.

The investigation corroborated claims that victims were deterred from reporting these incidents due to social stigma and the lack of a functional internal grievance system.

Administrative Retribution

The NCW identified specific individuals—Danish, Tauseef, and Raza Menon—as having "effective control" over the Nashik centre, allegedly operating under the protection of a senior official, Ashwini Chainani. The report claims that employees who attempted to protest were met with professional retaliation, while the Human Resources department remained willfully ignorant of the abuses.

The women’s rights body has formally recommended that the TCS management and relevant government authorities take immediate disciplinary action. It called for the implementation of strict statutory safeguards to ensure the safety and dignity of women in the workplace.

With inputs from IANS