The Curious Cases of MeToo in Indian Startups

Date:

Trending

Harassment or precisely sexual harassment, a terminology that is mainstream today, is an age-old issue.

- Advertisement -

When I recall the harrowing stories narrated to me by my friends, colleagues, and acquaintances about being groped, molested, passed lewd comments at, I nosedive into the root of the issue and find a common trait – fear of reporting or lack of awareness.

Sexual harassment at the workplace is not relatively new, the issue seems to have garnered headlines recently, thanks to the #metoo campaign on social media. #metoo has echoed the voices of millions that were stifled and muted previously.

- Advertisement -

Started initially by Tarana Burke way back in 2006 to aid colored women affected by sexual abuse and brought to life again by Hollywood actor Alyssa Milano last year, the campaign aims to bring all sexual harassment cases to the limelight and put the culprits behind bars.

In an interview with CNN Burke said “It’s not about a viral campaign for me. It’s about a movement. On one side, it’s a bold declarative statement that ‘I’m not ashamed’ and ‘I’m not alone.’

On the other side, it’s a statement from survivor to survivor that says ‘I see you, I hear you, I understand you and I’m here for you or I get it.” Of late, the #metoo campaign has percolated through the layers of Indian corporate and cases after cases of sexual abuse are being unfurled.

However, it is not just the large corporations that are at the vanguard of such unfortunate incidents, #metoo has put many startups – that fancy themselves as cool and unbiased – under the microscope.

This article is about such companies. It is about abuse. And most importantly, it is about creating awareness. So, let’s venture.

The #metoo Startups

1.TVF

The Pitchers famed media startup TVF is the youth’s go-to OTT platform in India.

However, the sad part of the affair is that last year, fourteen women had accused TVF’s founder Arunabh Kumar of sexual harassment. Although this is not the first time such incidences have surfaced in the media industry, however, nobody expected it from the uber-cool TVF.

In his defense, Kumar said “I am a heterosexual, single man and when I find a woman sexy, I tell her she’s sexy — but this is only done in my personal capacity.

I compliment women in my personal space and not at the workplace. Is that wrong? Is every man, whose compliment a woman doesn’t like, a molester.”

Despite the allegations and lawsuits against him, he still is unaffected and unfazed.

There might be some fragment of truth in his statement, it seems. But we can’t reach that conclusion just yet. We can hope that he is punished if found guilty.

2. AIB

The rivals of TVF – well, sort of – AIB is also not behind the sexual abuse race – a race that no company would want to win.

Three women namely Mahima Kukreja, Sandhya Menon, and Anu Bhuyan had taken to Twitter to show theirs against Utsav Chakraborty – a writer at AIB – who had DMed them lewd messages.

This case, however, appears more concrete with twitter screenshot flashing in the public podium.

In fact, Tanmay Bhatt, co-founder of AIB had acknowledged the complaints but failed to address or contain it.

In a recent development, Tanmay Bhat along with Gursimran Khamba – another co-founder – have relinquished duties with the company.

This classic escapism is the reason behind the constant proliferation of sexual abuse cases at the workplace. And a stronger reason why #metoo is incumbent in the Indian startup space.

3. ScoopWhoop & Investor Mahesh Murthy

There are many more such incidents and includes big names such as the co-founder of ScoopWhoop, investor Mahesh Murthy, and OML co-founder Vijay Nair.

However, the bitter reality is that all investigations against them have either been stalled or is stuck at the gates of various courts. Justice is never easy for Indians and more often than not, it is delayed.

So, even though the #metoo campaign gains traction, until and unless judiciary act on it quickly and until and unless the media houses resort to investigative journalism, the accused or the potential abusers will roam free and account for many other stories, many other social media rants, and many other #meetoo campaigns.

THE SNAPSHOTS

Sign up to get quick snaps of everyday happening, directly in your inbox.

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

- Advertisement -

Support our independent journalism PayPal (Outside India) For PayU (For Indian Readers).

Krishna Mali
Krishna Mali
Founder & Group Editor of TechGraph.

More Latest Stories

More Articles

00:01:37

UK PM Kier Starmer Abolishes NHS England To Bring Health Services Under Govt Control

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced plans to abolish NHS England and bring it back under government control. The move aims to reduce...

VIDEO: US President Donald Trump Calls NBC A ‘Work Network’ On Television

During a press meeting at the Oval Office on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump criticized a reporter by calling NBC the 'worst network' on television. https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/techgraph/episodes/VIDEO-US-President-Donald-Trump-Calls-NBC-A-Work-Network-On-Television--News--US-News-e304h89

The Role of Edge Computing in AI-Powered Cloud Solutions

With businesses including artificial intelligence (AI) in their operations, cloud computing has grown in...

From Startup to Success: Essential Steps for Landscaping Entrepreneurs

Starting a landscaping business is so exciting, blending creativity with the reward of transforming...
00:03:00

Trump Defends Elon Musk Plan for Federal Job Cuts; Govt Spending ‘Bloated’

Following a meeting with Elon Musk and senior cabinet members, U.S. President Donald Trump...
00:08:45

Trade War: Canadian PM Justin Trudeau Announces 25% Tariffs On US Imports

Ottawa: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday announced a 25% tariff on U.S....

Meta CPO Chris Cox Sells Shares Worth $8.3 Mn

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) Chief Product Officer Christopher Cox sold 13,556 shares of the...

Meta COO Javier Olivan Offloads Shares Worth $409,768

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) Chief Operating Officer Javier Olivan is set to sell 608...
00:02:23

‘Canada Ripping Us’: US President Trump Criticizes High Tariffs on Dairy and Lumber

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday slammed Canada’s high tariffs on American dairy and lumber products, warning of retaliatory measures unless the tariffs are...

Personal branding: designing logos for influencers and creators

In today’s digital landscape, personal branding has become more than just a buzzword; it’s...

Demand for plumbers in Oman: which specialists are most in demand?

The demand for skilled plumbers in Oman is steadily increasing due to the country's...

Union Budget 2025: Real Estate Experts See SWAMIH 2.0, ₹15,000 Cr State Support to Ease Housing Bottlenecks

The real estate sector views the Union Budget 2025-26 as a step toward addressing...

Logistic Startup Picckup Secures $500K in Seed Funding to Expand Electric Fleet

A Mohali-based mid-mile and last-mile logistic startup, Picckup, on Thursday, raised $500K in series...

Empowering Communities with Water Tech

This is a major problem worldwide; it affects billions of people in homes, villages, and towns. Population increases, climate change and limited water resources...

IIT Madras and SPF Partners to Enhance Policy Framework for Indian Startups

Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Startup Policy Forum (SPF) to drive data-driven and evidence-driven policy advocacy for the startup ecosystem. As part of this partnership, SPF will support the Centre for Research on...

Sachin Tendulkar Backed RRP Electronics Partners with Deca Technologies To Enhance Semiconductor Packaging

Cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar-backed semiconductor manufacturer RRP Electronics has signed a strategic partnership with...

Ways Technology Can Help Your Business Performance

Businesses of all sizes and across every industry are integrating technology to improve their...

BC Originals: Exclusive Casino Games on BC.Game

BC Originals are special, exclusive casino games that are just for BC.Game players. All...

Dogsee Chew draws $8 Mn in series B round from Ektha & Others

Natural pet treat brand Dogsee Chew on Thursday said, it has raised $8 million...

Simplifying International Transfers: A New Era for Indian Immigrants in Canada

Every year, thousands of Indian professionals and families pack their lives into suitcases and...

Lado Okhotnikov: A Successful Entrepreneur Who Has Inspired Millions

Lado Okhotnikov is a successful entrepreneur, expert, publicist, and investor from Kazakhstan, widely recognized...

Choosing the Right Tax Consultant: A Guide for Businesses and Individuals

For both individuals and businesses, tax planning and compliance are crucial aspects of financial...

Life Insurance Death Benefit Payouts: What Your Family Needs to Know

It is important to know more about life insurance policies and their operational modalities....

The Rise of Conversational AI: What It Means for Tech and SaaS Businesses

Back in the time, when AI was not as prominent, businesses used to struggle...

Union Budget 2025: Real Estate Experts See SWAMIH 2.0, ₹15,000 Cr State Support to Ease Housing Bottlenecks

The real estate sector views the Union Budget 2025-26 as a step toward addressing...

Microsoft Makes Equity Investment in Veeam

American tech giant Microsoft has made an equity investment in Veeam Software to develop...

Adani Wilmar Gets Shareholders’ Approval to Rebrand as AWL Agri Business Limited

Stock exchange-listed Adani Wilmar Limited announced on Tuesday that it has received approval from...

Beyond Firewalls: How Threat Intelligence Platforms Are Transforming Cybersecurity Operations

“Cybersecurity isn't just about building walls—it’s about seeing the enemy before they strike.” In...

Leveraging AI and Modern HR Solutions to Transform Recruitment Strategies for Skilled Workers

In today’s competitive job market, recruitment strategies are rapidly evolving, driven by advancements in...

Logistic Startup Picckup Secures $500K in Seed Funding to Expand Electric Fleet

A Mohali-based mid-mile and last-mile logistic startup, Picckup, on Thursday, raised $500K in series...

Life Insurance Death Benefit Payouts: What Your Family Needs to Know

It is important to know more about life insurance policies and their operational modalities....

Wired vs. Wireless Headsets: A Comparative Guide for Evolving Audio Needs

Across a wide range of demographics, including gamers, fitness enthusiasts, business executives, and remote...

The Rise of Conversational AI: What It Means for Tech and SaaS Businesses

Back in the time, when AI was not as prominent, businesses used to struggle...