Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) is a mandatory committee as per the guidelines of UGC [F.1-13/2022 (CPP-II), Dated 11th April, 2023], that every Higher Education Institution is required to constitute within the organisation. Every college needs to have an effective ICC in place to address issues arising out of the various kinds of intra and inter-discrimination that may happen on campus among stakeholders, such as ragging, gender discrimination, sexual and substance abuse, student unrest, and economic or social/ethnic issues. The ICC’s functions also gain legal powers from the POSH Act or the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. The ICC training is an important part of the complaint redressal process and helps the Internal Complaints Committee learn about the important elements of compliance under the Act.

    Understanding the significance of the role of ICC in our college, the various redressal mechanisms at the Mother Theresa College of Teacher Education, Perambra, have been amalgamated under the single umbrella of ICC from January 2024 onwards.

The major functions of the Internal Complaints Committee are:

• Implementation of the Internal Complaints Committee Policy of UGC relating to the prevention of all kinds of discrimination on campus, including sexual harassment.
• Resolving complaints from the aggrieved based on the guidelines of the Internal Complaints Committee Policy.
• Recommending actions to be taken by the Manager or any higher authorities, as recommended by the ICC.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF ICC

The specific responsibilities that lie with the ICC are:

• Receive complaints of sexual harassment, if any, in a confidential manner using a Complaint/Suggestion Box.
• Initiate and conduct inquiries as per the procedure suggested in the UGC guidelines, and as approved by the college management and administration from time to time.
• Submit the findings and recommendations of all such inquiries to the higher offices or the concerned parties as per the situation.
• Coordinate with the Principal and the Manager to implement appropriate actions and recommendations for redress and prevention in the future.
• Maintain strict confidentiality throughout the process as per the established guidelines of the Internal Complaints Committee Policy and principles of professional ethics and Counseling.
• Arrange individual and group guidance and counselling for the stakeholders periodically
• Organise regular sensitisation sessions (through Life Skill Training) and legal awareness camps for students and faculty.
• Organise training programmes or, as the case may be, workshops for the officers, functionaries, faculty and students, as indicated in the SAKSHAM Report (Measures for Ensuring the Safety of Women and Programmes for Gender Sensitisation on Campuses) of the Commission, to sensitise them and ensure knowledge and awareness of the rights, entitlements and responsibilities enshrined in the Act and under these regulations.
• Submit annual reports in the prescribed format to the IQAC and higher authorities, on demand.

Periodic updating of the college Website on the progress of the ICC per semester, highlighting the Action Taken Report in case of any complaint received.