Workplace Violence against Women in West Bengal

The United Nations defines violence against women as “any act of gender-based violence that causes, or likely leads to, physical, sexual, or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such actions, coercion, or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, occurring in either public or private settings.” Violence toward women is firmly rooted in traditional Indian culture, frequently accepted as normal from an early age. Despite heightened awareness and initiatives by the government and NGOs since the Beijing World Conference, this problem continues and even deteriorates, underscoring the necessity for more effective solutions. Violence toward women in India is a major problem that impacts not just the welfare of women but also the nation’s economic development. It appears in several ways, such as verbal mistreatment, physical harm, sexual violence, and even homicide, emphasizing the necessity for immediate focus and intervention. Workplace violence includes various actions, such as: a) Physical attacks b) Bullying c) Violent threats d) Disturbing conduct. Such events may take place at the work site and affect employee safety and health. This paper emphasizes the horrific rape and murder at West Bengal’s RG Kar Medical College.