Thursday 21 August 2008

WEEK 2 -- SEXUAL HARASSMENT AT THE HERALD: ACCUSED GM MANJUNATH CONTINUES TO GRIN

Goan local newspapers went to town about the sexual harassment case at Goa Architecture College recently. But just how serious are our local newspapers in particular about sexual harassment in their own workspace.
Barring the Gomantak Times and the Goan Observer, no newspaper has as yet, reported the sexual harassment case registered at the state unit of the National Commission for Women, involving N Manjunath, the general manager of the Herald, one of Goa’s leading English dailies.
The Navhind Times is perhaps returning the favour to the Herald (from one institution to another) for the latter’s tepid (and most times almost non existent) coverage of TNT Editor Arun Sinha’s molestation case. (But one point we’d like to make here. The TNT did report a criminal complaint filed against Herald managing director Raul Fernandes’ brother Oswald vis a vis some property offence, sometime back).The Times of India… wonder what happened to it. Too many skirts on the Goa Times Page 3 may have impeded their grand editorial vision. Those of you guys, who expect ‘fair’ coverage from TOI, would do well to wait for the tourism season to hit before they make their call. For that would be the season of dubious convergence between editorial and advertising interest. Lets see how the paper fares then.
To be honest, we really haven’t focused much on the vernacular papers, so if any one these guys did report it, we would appreciate if the readers would let us know.

For your information, Manjunath did not attend the first two hearings at the NCW when he was summoned. In the first hearing, he was represented by Michael (remember Raul’s PA? Turns out, he is also Manager Operations. Hmmm fancy title) who informed the Commission that Manjunath was unavailable.
Oh really… Manjunath has been in and around Panjim all this while. His being unavailable is rather strange, unless he’s busy seeking certain passengers for a lift all the way down to Verna, in sporadic fits of unbridled philanthropy.

His second hearing was scheduled yesterday on Wednesday, which too he did not attend.
In a letter, which he has submitted to the NCW instead, Manjunath claims that he was planning to file a complaint against the victim for “causing a lot of damage to his reputation and in his personal and public life.”
Guys can you beat this?
Are you guys at the
Herald and HCN going to take this shit lying down? Shame on you fellows! Stop thinking about yourselves as journalists or accountants and so and so forth. Don’t you guys think you have a basic duty to at least question the newspaper management as to what steps they are taking to see that justice is done?
Like we mentioned in our last post, we aren’t saying lynch Manjunath, but insist on forming a Vishakha committee and start an impartial enquiry for godsake.

We would really like to know what
Herald Editor Ashwin Tombat would have to say about this? And Nisser Dias… What’s Nisser doing about this? The girl was a part of Nisser’s HCN staff… Are these two guys going to take it lying down? We are also concerned about MD Raul Fernandes’ PA Michael. Guys how can Michael absolve himself off any responsibility? Michael used to share a cabin with Manjunath.
In which office have you seen a set up like this, fellas?
A general manager sharing a cabin with the managing director’s PA cum ‘operations manager’ and a receptionist behind close doors? Have you heard of anything like this before? We believe that Michael too should be questioned by the Commission for facilitating such an arrangement.
Back to the letter, Manjunath also states in his letter that if the woman had ‘any such grievance, then it should have been reported within the organisation and should not have been divulged in open. It should have been sorted out internally’.

What sort of an argument is this guys? Here you have a junior-most employee -- a production executive, who’s the victim, who claims that the general manager of her organization used to pat her face, brush her hair. So whom does she complain to? The accused is her top boss? Does she give him a written complaint at the time when he’s busy trying to caress her, as she alleges?

Manjunath, stop reading this blog and spend some time coming up with better excuses next time round. If its Michael you are relying on for this fluff, think again. Ask Joel or someone. He’s good at drumming them up. (BTW talking of fluff have you
seen this small flickr memoryput together by some ex HCN employee, interesting pics)
Sources at the NCW claim that the next hearing could well have to wait till Ganesh Chaturthi… That’s a long way off…
We’ve seen government’s fall in a matter of days in Goa. This is just a nobody girl seeking action against what she claims is a case of sexual harassment against the general manager of a leading English opinion making daily N Manjunath, who seems to have the management backing him.

At times a week is long enough for hope to crumble.
P.S. BTW guys we've mailed the Herald editor on his ID and the general ID for a response on this issue on the way we ran this story, the first time round. We've received no response yet. We have also asked them if we could send them a questionnaire on this issue. No response on that one too.

25 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

send them the damn questionaire with a deadline of 3 working days. If they don't respond, publish it here with their comments as "No Comments"

21 August 2008 at 07:47  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

well done guys!
the staff at herald our hatching manjunath's eggs!!!!

you guys doing a great job!

keep it up penpricks!!

21 August 2008 at 17:22  
Blogger DJfossil said...

I think you guys/girls are doing an amazing job!

The question really is to ask if our journalists are professional.The tragedy is fact that someone like Ashwin Tombat,with his leftist student background, or Arun Sinha,Reuter's Fellowship winner to Oxford and author of brilliant book on the nature of conflict in Bihar, can forget who they once were.

Yes, of course journalism will fail in these sad circumstances. But that's why there are guys/girls like you around,who know where yu have come from,and,more importantly, where you want to go.

As for this molester in the Herald...all the women in the office should forget the law and propriety and just grab him in his cabin and chappal the shit...

21 August 2008 at 17:23  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

At times I hate you and at times like this I love you. At times I see you as nothing more than a journalist with a wicked and desperate mind and at times like this I see you as the only lasting beacon.

Keep it up.

21 August 2008 at 17:49  
Blogger Kaustubh said...

hello PP
i think the vernacular papers also have kept silent on this issue...i didnt see any news on Tarun Bharat and Gomantak..don't know about others..but i dont think it has been published.

21 August 2008 at 20:08  
Blogger augusto pinto said...

Dear penpricks

You ask "But just how serious are our local newspapers in particular about sexual harassment in their own workspace."

Well you do mention in a para in the above report "... we aren’t saying lynch Manjunath, but insist on forming a Vishakha committee and start an impartial enquiry for godsake..."

At least you are aware about this. But why are you journalists, who should by now, given the publicity that the Vaman Naik sexual harassment case at Dempo College has been given; given the publicity that the sexual harassment case at Goa Architecture College has been getting - how come you chaps who know that it is MANDATORY that a Committee for the Prevention of Sexual Harassment at the Workplace (CPSHW) popularly called a Vishaka Committee should be in place at every workplace are so complacent that Herald does not have such a Committee?

It is a fact that CPSHW s or Vishaka Committees are not being instituted at workplaces throughout the country. But surely people working in media institutions should be in the know of such matters; and they should have insisted with their employers that the law be followed. For if they are themselves not going to follow the law of the land, how can they possibly guide the society at large to follow it???

BTW how many media organizations have Vishaka Committees in place? This should make a good story.

21 August 2008 at 20:16  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yeah, I agree with Pinto. Do a piece on the local print media, incl. vernacular as well as the electronic so-called 'news' channels, besides HCN. It would be interesting to know how many have observed the guidelines beginning with the Pricks' soft corner Gomantak Times (GT) being teh first followed by the now LOCAL Times of India (TOI).
Pricks can ask Preetu Nair, once upon a time staunch women activist. Preetu had incidentally questioned during the Dempo college-Vaman episode why such an organisation was not being formed to protect the interest of women in their workplace.
It would be noteworthy to know her views on this issue as the TOI has avoided the incident like the plague.
Perhaps they find it fit to exploit more women by displaying them on PAGE 3 dancing at parties then covering such serious maters.
This is their style of journalism for all those with a high opinion of TOI!

21 August 2008 at 21:57  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

chappal the shit out of them is little crazy..because there were women in the h.c.n some time ago who had a good time and have now flown the nest[fillipones] certainly i am a witness to it.and if were to revolt we'll be out of job ..we need unity

21 August 2008 at 22:11  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

DONT'T TELL US IT WAS RAUL FERNANDES(M.D) HERALD BROTHER'S CASE WAS REPORTED THEY ARE HAND IN GLOVE .HE SIGNS RAUL'S DOCUEMENTS..AS FAR AS I KNOW IT WAS MR R. FERNANDES RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY.THIS WAS ALSO REPORTED BY THE OBSERVER AND CONSTRUCTION WAS STOPPED RIGHT AWAY.. PLEASE CLARIFY WITH MR NARYAN BECAUSE HE ALSO REPORTED IT

21 August 2008 at 22:19  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

mr. Tombat please answer the questionaire.why are you figiting and acting like a coward like m.d and manjunath..michael at least showed that he was a man. mr tombat i am sure you have witnissed more scenes in office during the insecption of h.c.n.speak up man speak up

21 August 2008 at 23:00  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It wud b intrstng 2 knw if d HERALD UNION (HAEU) IS STILL ALIVE AFTER d hardships faced by former gen sec AGNELO PEREIRA (now in TOI)???
Rem. Robin harassed those in uinion! Wonder who heads it now? It used 2 b clld HERALD & ALLIED EMPLOYEES UNION (HAEU).
Probs it wound up after duo of Ash & Aggie quit? huh???
any word on the HAEU?? Ex-GUJ GS Julian D'Costa? Another vibrant activist of women harassment??
Or r ALL "WOMEN" working in HERALD now wimps or cowards lacking guts???
SHOW some courage for gudsakes!!
EX_HERALD STAFFER

21 August 2008 at 23:17  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

keep it up herald management i think you have bribed the situation.it seems a little cool.but note we have not given up.womens commission please note justice delayed is justice denied.
don't let the matter die a slow death.why is the haering fixed for a later date.if manjunath does not report just report the matter to the cops.dirty you

22 August 2008 at 07:53  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Why the hell are you guys so surprised and shocked at the manner in which the hearings at the women's commission have been brushed off. And that no journalist at The Herald has decided to speak out in favour of the victim. And of Manjunath being backed by the management? Do a little check, and you will find that every case of sexual harassment concerning a media house dies this kind of natural death. I would like to find out, has this lady approached any NGO...chances are she will be turned down too. Believe it or not, this is the disadvantage of having to endure a democracy. No one wants to cross swords with the fourth estate; a media house and all the murky goings-on therein remain too sacrosanct for a probe.

The Vishakha Guidelines were formulated more than a decade ago.. yet,the truth is, there are hardly any media houses with Sexual Harassment Committees. What's more, even when a regional office of a national newspaper has a committee, other offices of the same paper may not.,,and nobody has bothered to question this state of affairs!!

22 August 2008 at 17:24  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

please victim let this matter not die out.please get in touch with A N.G.O.teach the crooks terrible lesson.because the truth always stands out.women's commission please assist her or else we'll lose trust in you.

22 August 2008 at 21:32  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What happened to the "GOA NEWS" story all employees have now joined HCN & Goa 365 after channel shut down?
Have they been paid their dues by management? Anyone knows more about this?

22 August 2008 at 22:42  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

HCN editor Nissar quit GOA 365 on principles. Where are they gone now? His staff is asking why he not standing up for women. Is it fact that lady not doing work but harass by management to quit?
Someone better answer????

22 August 2008 at 22:46  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mr manju looks like former cricketer and MP Kirti Azad. Isn't it.

23 August 2008 at 00:30  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

All said and done, Could it....just could it be that the so called 'victim' had cooked up the story. Why are we all crucifying Manjunath without a fair trial. Not that I am supporting Manjunath.
And here it goes again, why only the herald.

23 August 2008 at 05:17  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

what goans , goans are only shouting " we are goans" what happend know a goan girl id been sexsually harresed by herald GM why any one is not questioning him.Goans are there only to shout that We are Goans (Goankar). No one has voice to ask Manjunath about his Harresment.
Viva Goa , If it has been in Bihar we would Killed that person at samee place

23 August 2008 at 11:54  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

why only 'HERALD'? and why only manjunath? the answer is why has he not reported to the commission and pleaded his case?if not guilty.why is he deputing people to do his dirty job?why is the 'HERALD' management sheltering this crook?they need a morality check.please women folk just stop patronising something which dose'nt give women their due respect.and if you want to that's again your choice.mr nissar some day you will also not receive payment from the h.c.n.[herald] for which they are famous watch out closely.all the best

23 August 2008 at 21:24  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

everyone knows tht at herald it is impossible to raise a voice without fear of losing a job, for christ's sake even the HR Executive works on the instructions on the GM and MICHAEL who lick his as*. while the MD sleeps in another land, my guess is he surely backs him a 100% and wants to avoid all conflict in the matter or he just doesnt care about the employees at all. i pity all who work der as the way he talks to all employees is demeaning and there is no respect shown as a professional or even as an employer. MICHAEL AND GM - pity ur wives and children man!!! the organisation is beginning to run like a one man's show or generals manager's rule aka president's rule. god save their souls

23 August 2008 at 22:37  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Why has the Goa Union of Journalists (GUJ) failed to raise this serious issue? Since a complaint has been made to the state Women's Commission.
Also the otherwise very vocal GUJ president Suhasini Prabhugaonkar a known activist for women's rights has surprisingly remained quiet.
Why so Sunita?
Does this complaint need an inquiry? However unlike the casinos and bars at Inox issue that you very boldly raised at every forum that you got an opportunity, your silence is certainly disturbing.
Do say something on this topic. For those who agree with me and want to question her personally if she has done anything for the lady journo in 'trouble' Sunita can be contacted at 9881099260.

24 August 2008 at 21:58  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yes, it is true that in Herald employees are scared about their job, hence they may not raise their voice. However we had one Manager who was very sincere and dedicated with understanding human problem. He was handling Personnel and HR Dept. During his tenure he has handled one such Sexual Harassment case in HCN and very tactfully made the concerned accused officer to resign from his post. Really Herald need his guidance guidance now badly so that Herald will live long and regain its reputation. Yes Mr. Vijay Gaonkar we need you badly as you will handle such rascals like Mr. Manjunath and his croni/chamcha Mr. Micheal Pereira with strong hand since Mr Raul Fernandes realised his mistake of giving charge to Mr. Manjunath.

24 August 2008 at 23:09  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Amusing is it not, that people who hide their identities because they fear being 'shot in the gut' are now hectoring fellow journalists to bare their bellies for that lethal blast?

It's spelt H-Y-P-O-C-R-I-C-Y, pricks.

25 August 2008 at 14:30  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

r u sure d spelling is not "HYPOCRISY."
Just check d dictionary 2 b sure.

26 August 2008 at 18:58  

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