How to participate in group discussion?

Life and Employability Skills
M Scheme

Experiment 9
Group Discussion

Dos in GD

Be smart, neatly dressed, cheerful and confident

Be assertive and positive in your approach

Initiate the discussion if you understand the topic

Allow others to speak, listen to others with interest

Be brief and talk to the point
Be authentic, accurate, analytical, logical and reliable in your statement

Take the chance to conclude or summarize the points discussed at the end

Be polite and keep eye contact throughout the GD

Don’ts in GD
•Don’t be emotional and nervous in your expressions

•Don’t interrupt others while they are presenting their points

•Don’t be a mere spectator but a participant, trying your best twice or thrice

•Don’t be rude and aggressive even though someone disagrees with you.

•Don’t bluff

•Don’t indulge in unnecessary or side talk with others.

Practice – Group Discussion
Topic: Has the harassment of women at workplace come to an end or not?
Group members: 8
Duration : 8 minutes

Sowmiya: Hi friends, today our topic for discussion is whether the harassment of women at workplace has ceased or not? Let me first initiate the topic and define the issue on hand.  We all know, the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013 came into force on December 9th, 2013. It is a significant step by the government in response to the nation-wide protest against Delhi Gang Rape 2012.

Sanjay: You are right Miss.Sowmiya.  The question now is why the harassment still persists, though severe punishments and penalties are included in the Act. 

Kirutika: Excuse me, I’m very sorry to disagree with what our friend Mr. Sanjay says. What do you mean by severe punishment? For a man committing such an offence, the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013, Section 354 prescribes one to three years imprisonment and/or a fine. Is that all you mean as a severe punishment?

Nandini: Of course, Kiritika is right. Only a severe punishment can put a full stop to this issue.  You know, in Afghanistan, a culprit indulged in rape is shot dead within four days of the crime and in Saudi Arabia, he is stoned to death in public.

Ganesh: hello friends, lend me your ears, please. Harassment means not only rape but also , as the Act says, a demand or request for sexual favours or even showing the pornography to working women.  Above all, Indian laws maintain respect for Life. That’s why, only in extreme cases, the committed is sentenced to death punishment.

Vidhya: It’s ok Mr.Ganesh. But the harassment act 2013 asks the woman to give her complaint in writing within three months from the date of incident. You know very well, neither the woman nor her parents would come forward and put her future life or family heritage at risk.

Gayathri: Yes Vidhya. It’s one the reasons why men take advantage of that.

John: Yes, I also agree with our friend Miss. Gayathri. The rate of harassment of women has hiked even after this Act(2013). All over India, 34000 rapes have been reported in 2014 and 36735 in 2015. It’s  a big number, isn’t it?

Kirutika: There is another reason Mr.John.  Many aggrieved women are  still not aware of the laws meant for them.

Sowmiya: It’s true. The implementation of this Act is also questionable.

Vidhya: I too feel the same.  Many industries have paid no attention to this Act.  You know, friends, according to a FICCI-EY November 2015 report, 36% of Indian companies and 25% among MNCs are not compliant with the Sexual Harassment Act, 2013

Sowmiya: Ok friends, it is time to end up our discussion. On behalf of all, let me summarize the points we discussed so far. The reports say, the harassment of women is still on the go. We feel that severe punishments coupled with awareness of legal provisions may solve the issue gradually. I thank you all for listening to me and for your active participation. Thank you very much.