Top Greenpeace India executives resign for mishandling of sexual harassment cases
New Delhi: A top executive of Greenpeace India has resigned following an internal review by the NGO of its handling of two prior sexual harassment cases. Executive Director of Greenpeace India, Samit Aich, offered his resignation to the Greenpeace India Board, which accepted it yesterday, the NGO said, adding that a Programme Director, Divya Raghunandan, too, has quit.
“The Executive Director of Greenpeace India, Samit Aich, resigned following an internal review of the organisation’s handling of two sexual harassment cases,” said a statement on the NGO’s website.
It had also tendered an unconditional apology for the way it handled the alleged sexual harassment case. The move had come after one of its ex-employees wrote an article on a web forum last week alleging rape and sexual harassment by colleagues at Greenpeace India.
The statement on the website further said that its Board has now appointed two interim co-Executive Directors – Vinuta Gopal and Sanjiv Gopal. “Their appointments are with full mandate and support while the Board starts the process of recruiting a new Executive Director,” it added.
The Board also decided to commission a full, independent audit of how Greenpeace India dealt with the sexual harassment cases so that it may strengthen its internal processes to ensure a safe working environment for women, website stated. The Board, meanwhile, made clear their appreciation for Aich for 11 years of dedicated service to Greenpeace India.
