It was 2 p.m., when Reshma (name changed) in torn clothes, rushed into the mansion, where she was staying. The warden, following an alert from the watchman, rushed to her room on time and stopped the girl from committing suicide. When enquired, she confided that her superior in the company had tried to abuse her, and that she had narrowly escaped from him.

Reshma, a BBM student, who was working on a project in the company, initially was subjected to minor physical harassment, by the official. Though, she had reported to the management, it was overlooked, as Vinodh (name changed) the senior manager, was too talented and efficient to be replaced.

That particular day being Sunday many employees were absent. As Reshma was engrossed in completing her project, Vinodh,on the pretext of guiding her, came to the office and took advantage of the situation. As he made advances, Reshma battled with the beast and escaped.

Hailing from a middle class conservative family, Reshma had a tough time in taking permission from her parents to stay away from home and do her project. Totally shattered, Reshma knew well now that her parents would never allow her to continue even for a minute to stay alone in an ‘alien place’.

Luckily, the warden’s husband, a journalist, stepped in and ensured that the management suspended Vinodh till Reshma completed her project.

A society that does not know to respect a woman and treat her with dignity cannot be termed civilised. As goes the saying, “Every man talks of women’s liberty, only when his daughter gets married”, men should put themselves in the position of their women colleagues’ kin to understand their feelings.

In an era, where people no more consider the opposite gender as fellow human beings and just consider them as sexual dolls, training to boost their (women) self confidence and to protect themselves can help them, not only in work places, but everywhere.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author’s own.

(The author of the column is Uma Ram, freelance writer from Coimbatore)