Bhubaneswar, July 17: In the wake of a tragic self-immolation incident involving a girl at Fakir Mohan College in Balasore, allegedly due to harassment by a teacher, Odisha Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja has issued a directive to ensure strict enforcement of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act) across all departments and institutions.
In a letter addressed to all Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, Commissioner-cum-Secretaries, Revenue Divisional Commissioners (RDCs), and District Collectors, the Chief Secretary emphasized the urgent need to foster safe, respectful, and inclusive environments for women in workplaces and educational institutions.
He noted that sexual harassment is a serious violation of personal dignity and rights, which also adversely impacts productivity, morale, and equal opportunity. Full implementation of the POSH Act is not only a legal obligation but a moral responsibility, aimed at preventing harassment, encouraging prompt redressal, and building institutional trust.
Key directives under POSH Act implementation:
The Chief Secretary called for immediate attention to the following critical provisions of the Act:
a. Constitution of Internal Committees (ICs):
As mandated by Section 4 of the Act, all institutions with 10 or more employees must form an Internal Committee to receive and address sexual harassment complaints promptly.
b. Capacity Building and Sensitization:
Section 19 requires all employers, including educational institutions, to regularly conduct awareness and orientation programs for students and staff.
c. Timely Inquiry and Redressal:
Sections 9 and 11 of the Act outline time-bound procedures for lodging complaints and conducting inquiries. Training and capacity building of IC members and Presiding Officers are essential.
d. Annual Reporting:
Institutions must maintain detailed records of complaints and submit annual status reports to the concerned authorities to ensure transparency and accountability.
e. Responsibility of Management:
Heads of institutions will be held personally accountable for ensuring effective implementation of the POSH Act and for any failures in safeguarding complainants or preventing retaliation.
Immediate actions to be taken:
All administrative heads have been directed to prioritize the following:
Establish/Revalidate ICs:
Ensure all educational institutions and relevant organizations under your jurisdiction promptly form or update their Internal Committees.Regular IC Meetings:
ICs must meet monthly for the next six months to drive awareness and momentum against harassment. Subsequently, meetings should be held quarterly.Display of Grievance Redressal Mechanisms:
Details of the Internal Committee and access to platforms such as the She-Box portal should be clearly displayed at multiple locations in all institutions.Periodic Training:
Mandate regular sensitization and capacity-building sessions for both staff and students.Compliance Monitoring:
Conduct regular inspections and require institutions to submit status reports. Senior district officials should visit institutions and engage with students to monitor compliance.Accountability Measures:
Heads of institutions must be held accountable for any negligence or non-compliance regarding harassment complaints.SHe-Box Utilization:
All institutions must upload relevant data and reports to the She-Box portal promptly. Institutions must also ensure students and staff are aware of how to lodge complaints through this platform.
The Odisha government reiterates its commitment to ensuring the safety, dignity, and empowerment of women across educational and professional spaces. District administrations are expected to act swiftly and responsibly in implementing these directives.
The Chief Secretary has requested all senior officials to regularly review POSH Act compliance during field visits and submit a comprehensive compliance report to the Department of Women and Child Development within 15 days.
