Bhubaneswar, Jul 31: The Odisha Higher Education Department has issued a new directive requiring all institutions in the state to improve transparency and accountability in handling harassment complaints. This decision comes after a tragic incident at Fakir Mohan College in Balasore.
The directive mandates that all higher educational institutions and department offices in Odisha upload detailed information about harassment complaints and their resolution on the She-Box portal. This online platform is developed by the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development.
Institutions are required to provide information about their Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), Local Committee (if applicable), the total number of harassment complaints received, and how many of them have been resolved.
The deadline for compliance is August 1, 2025. The move is aimed at increasing transparency, ensuring accountability, and strengthening gender-safety mechanisms in educational institutions, with the goal of creating a safer environment for both students and staff.
