SRINAGAR, OCTOBER 12: Social Welfare Department (SWD), SANKALP-HEW Srinagar, organised a comprehensive training programme on the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act) and the SHe-Box portal for members of Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) from various district offices Srinagar.
The programme was held at the Banquet Hall, M.A. Road, Srinagar, with the objective of strengthening institutional mechanisms for the prevention and redressal of sexual harassment at the workplace and promoting a safe, secure and dignified working environment for women employees.
Resource persons from the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Srinagar, participated in the programme and delivered informative sessions on the legal provisions of the POSH Act, 2013, the responsibilities of Internal Complaints Committees and the procedures to be followed while dealing with complaints of sexual harassment at the workplace.
During the training, participants were sensitised about the importance of ensuring a workplace free from sexual harassment, discrimination and intimidation. The resource persons elaborated on the key provisions of the POSH Act, including the prevention of sexual harassment, the constitution and functioning of Internal Complaints Committees, the process of receiving and examining complaints, and the need to ensure fairness, confidentiality and impartiality throughout the inquiry process.
Special emphasis was laid on the roles and responsibilities of ICC members in handling complaints with sensitivity, maintaining confidentiality, adhering to prescribed procedures and ensuring that complaints are addressed in a timely and legally appropriate manner. The participants were also encouraged to discharge their responsibilities with professionalism, integrity and a strong commitment to safeguarding the dignity and rights of women employees.
The session also focused on the SHe-Box portal, an online platform designed to facilitate the reporting and monitoring of workplace sexual harassment complaints. The participants were familiarised with the purpose and significance of the portal and its role in strengthening transparency, accessibility and accountability in the complaint redressal mechanism. The importance of proper handling of complaints received through the portal and coordination with the concerned authorities was also highlighted.
The programme concluded with an emphasis on the need for effective implementation of the POSH Act, 2013, proper utilisation of the SHe-Box portal and the active functioning of Internal Complaints Committees across district offices to ensure a safe and dignified working environment for all women employees.
