In response to the tragic self-immolation death of a college student in Balasore district, allegedly due to inaction on her sexual harassment complaint, the Odisha government has directed all departments to ensure women’s safety in workplaces across the state.
Directives issued by Chief Secretary
In a letter, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja has directed all government departments to ensure adherence to the Provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 by all institutions or organisations.
In the letter, the chief secretary has directed the implementation of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Act in workplaces and institutions is essential to ensure a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all, particularly women.
Ahuja has also asked the heads of the departments and authorities that the compliance report on the action points be submitted to the Department of Women and Child Development within 15 days.
Ahuja highlighted that “sexual harassment not only violates an individual’s dignity and rights but also undermines productivity, morale, and equal opportunities.”
He further stated in the letter that by enforcing the PoSH Act, organisations fulfil their legal and ethical obligations to prevent, prohibit, and address harassment, thereby promoting a culture of accountability and trust.
He further stated that by enforcing the PoSH Act, organizations fulfill their legal and ethical obligations to prevent, prohibit, and address harassment, thereby promoting a culture of accountability and encouraging reporting without fear, and builds trust among employees or members, ultimately contributing to a healthier and more equitable work or institutional space.
All the department authorities have been advised by the department authorities to go for the constitution of Internal Committee (IC), capacity building and sensitisation, time-bound inquiry and redressal mechanism, annual reporting and transparency and responsibility of management.
“The head of the institution shall be held personally responsible for ensuring effective implementation of the POSH Act, as well as for any lapses in safeguarding complainants and preventing retaliation,” Ahuja said.
To enhance awareness and momentum in the fight against sexual harassment, particularly in educational institutions, the chief secretary has directed administrative heads to constitute or revalidate IC and ensure they meet monthly for the next six months. After this initial period, ICs should meet quarterly, as stipulated by the Act.
Ahuja also said that the authorities are also required to prominently display grievance redressal mechanism, such as the She-Box portal, along with details of the IC is prominently displayed in multiple locations in all institutions, mandate periodic awareness and capacity-building sessions for all staff and students, monitor and enforce compliance through regular inspections and require all institutions to submit status reports.
Furthermore, the college and school authorities have also been instructed to regularly visit educational institutions and interact with students, the chief secretary said.
This directive follows the death of a second-year B.Ed student from Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore who tragically died at AIIMS in Bhubaneswar on Monday night. She had set herself on fire on the college campus on July 12, allegedly due to a lack of action against a professor she accused of sexual harassment.
Stating that the state government is committed to ensuring the safety, dignity, and empowerment of women in all educational and professional environments, Ahuja said district administrations are therefore expected to act with urgency and diligence to create a safe environment for girls and women and uphold the provisions of the law in both letter and spirit.
