Chirang: In a bid to strengthen workplace safety and promote inclusivity, a comprehensive workshop on the ‘Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Act and the SHe-box Portal’ was held on Friday at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Assam’s Chirang district.
The event, organized by SANKALP: District Hub for Empowerment of Women, Mission Shakti, Department of Women & Child Development, Chirang, in collaboration with the NGO ant (the action northeast trust), Chirang, and the District Administration, was graced by the presence of District Commissioner Jatin Bora.
Addressing the event, Bora emphasized the critical role of government and police officials in reinforcing the Internal Complaint Committees (ICCs) within various departments to combat sexual harassment.
He underscored the importance of grassroots empowerment and noted that women are no less in terms of their rights to a safe and respectful work environment.
He hoped initiatives like this workshop would drive meaningful change and increase awareness among all.
The session was led by Laxmi Chetri, the ant’s Gender Vertical Lead, who provided an insightful and comprehensive overview of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act.
Chetri highlighted the Act’s significance, the legal frameworks in place to protect victims, and the responsibilities of employers and employees in fostering a harassment-free workplace.
The session included an interactive segment, where attendees had the opportunity to clarify doubts and discuss real-life scenarios.
A key focus of the workshop was the SHe-box Portal, an online platform launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development to provide women with a safe and accessible way to file complaints of sexual harassment at the workplace.
By leveraging the SHe-box Portal, women can report incidents without fear of retaliation, ensuring that complaints are handled with sensitivity and urgency.
The workshop saw active participation from the heads and representatives of various government offices. It aimed to inform and empower officials about the legal provisions and the importance of ensuring harassment-free environments for all employees.
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This awareness initiative is part of the ‘Annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence’, a global moment to help #EndViolence against women and girls.
It runs from November 25 (the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) until December 10, Human Rights Day.
