THE FEMALE SECURITY GUARDS OF DIBRUGARH UNIVERSITY

CENTRE FOR STUDIES IN JOURNALISM AND MASS  COMMUNICATION, DIBRUGARH UNIVERSITY

Title of the paper
DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION
Report on: Community visit
Community: Female Security Guards of Dibrugarh University.
Paper Code: 20300.
Submitted by: Anwesha Baruah,Roll no.02 Nasrin Hussain,Roll no. 24 Nilakshi Saikia,Roll no. 27
Smita Gogoi,Roll No. 39
Rheashri Borah, Roll No. 33
Gargi Baruah, Roll No. 12
 Manalisha Gogoi, Roll No. 20                                                               Sunayana Borah, Roll No. 40
Pranjal Buragohain, Roll No. 30
Simanta Phukon, Roll No. 41
Second Semester, MAMC
Submitted ToFaculty:
AbhijitHandique(Assist. Proff.)


CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
OBJECTIVES
ASSUMPTIONS
ANALYSIS
FINDINGS
CONCLUSION


ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We would like to express our gratitude to our faculty-in-charge Abhijit Handique who gave us the opportunity to visit a community of our choice and have an interaction to know their experiences as a female security guard in the University Campus.
And, we are thankful to the female security guards for their co-operation and helping us to further proceed with our assignment.


OBJECTIVES
To know the hurdles they face during their day to day working hours.
To know why they have opted for this job.
To know whether they face any discrimination based on their gender.
To know their opinions regarding the current security system of the University and do they think it should be more improvised.
To know if they are aware of the Maternity Benefits Act recently amended in 2017.
If they are treated equally with the male security guards in terms of income.
To know if they face any challenges during the nightshifts.
To know if they receive proper accommodation and health facilities.
To know whether their jobs are permanent and are they appointed by the University authority or any other private security agency.
To know whether their income is sufficient to run their household.
To enquire if they arehappy as working women.



ASSUMPTIONS

We want them to be provided with adequate technical facilities.
Encouraging them to put their problems infront of the concerned authority.
Informing them about the different Acts made for them.
Developing their living standards.




INTRODUCTION
Security guards are crucial components of the University space as they strive to make the University a hassle-free and secured environment.The role of a security guard is not only confined to providing “security” of the University, but also keeps the nearby areas under their surveillance.We have chosen this community to understand “security service” as an occupation as well as a metaphor and use this project as an opportunity to understand the various meanings attributed to the profession.And also to sensitize ourselves regarding the plight of the female security guards and convey the concerned authority to adopt measures that lighten their institutional and personal challenges.




ABSTRACT
 The purpose of the visit is to look at the working condition of the female security guards of Dibrugarh University.
The report  focuses mainly on the issues they are facing as a female security guard during the working hours. We tried to acknowledge them with the various Schemes and Acts especially made for the female security guards. We also tried to encourage them to put their issues in front of the concerned Authority. During the interaction they were very co-operative, although they hesitated a bit at first.




ANALYSIS

The community visit on 13th of May,2018, Sunday. We started our visit from the main gate “Jyoti Batsora” around 4pm. There are total ten female security guards in the University and we almost enquired six of them. They informed us that they have not been posted permanently by the concerned authority.They are working on a contractual basis for two years. We have interacted with the guards working in the main gate followed by University park, hostels, and in certain departments.
                    The first lady we interacted with informed us that their working hours are divided into two shifts from 5am to 9am and 9am to 5pm. Generally, they do not have any night shifts except on certain days when the University organizes programmes like general freshers’ social and farewells, etc. The accommodation facilities are only allotted to the ones who are permanent in their posts. There is no any discrimination in case of income.
                  Our next area of surveywas the park. The female guard we met there was very generous to us. She provided us with much information regarding the status of their job. There is no any facility of restroom, proper sanitation, drinkingwater facilities. They have to carry their own food with them. Their income is not sufficient enough to run their households smoothly. She also informed us that they get one day leave per week.
                 Then we went to the hostel,MamoniRaisomChatriNivas. There we interacted with the female security guard who informed us that they get a casual leave of only twelve days in a year. There we came to know that they also find problem in transportation. Some of them have to travel a lot to reach their destination and then to return. They also need an increment in their salary.  They said that the Students’ Union is very supportive and stand by them whenever they need them.

FINDINGS

The age group is between 22 to 35 years.
The minimum qualification required is HSSLC pass.
A new security room will be built up in the premises of MamoniRaisomChatriNivas.
Self-defence is a must for any security guard, but they are not provided with it.
As there are only ten female security guards in the entirecampus, it becomes hard for them to carry on with their responsibilities.




CONCLUSION

In conclusion, we can add that the female security guards of DibrugarhUniversity, are satisfied with their job and simultaneously, they are hoping for some better changes in near future.