Chandigarh: Reinforcing its commitment to creating safe and dignified workplaces for women, the Women and Child Development Department, Government of Haryana organized a State-Level Training Programme on the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act) and the SHE-Box Portal at Panchkula. The programme brought together DHEW officials, Protection Officers, Local Committee Chairpersons and other field-level functionaries from across the State.
Addressing the gathering, Director, Women and Child Development Department, Haryana, Dr. Priyanka Soni emphasized that ensuring women’s safety, dignity and equal opportunity at the workplace is a shared responsibility of all institutions and stakeholders. She stated that while the POSH Act provides a strong legal framework for prevention and redressal of workplace sexual harassment, its success ultimately depends upon effective implementation, awareness and sensitivity at the ground level.
The Director highlighted the crucial role played by district-level functionaries in strengthening complaint redressal systems, promoting awareness and ensuring timely support for women facing workplace harassment. She urged participants to actively contribute towards building safe, respectful and inclusive work environments across Haryana.
During the training programme, resource persons including Mr. Kamal from the National Commission for Women and Mr. Ankur, POSH Expert, conducted technical sessions on the key provisions of the POSH Act, the constitution and functioning of Internal and Local Committees, inquiry procedures, employer responsibilities, compliance requirements and practical challenges in implementation. Participants were also provided a demonstration of the SHE-Box Portal and its complaint management process.
The sessions focused on strengthening participants’ understanding of the key provisions of the POSH Act, the functioning of Internal Committees and Local Committees, inquiry procedures, stakeholder responsibilities, emerging challenges and best practices. A demonstration of the SHE-Box Portal was also conducted to familiarize participants with the online complaint registration and monitoring process.
An important aspect highlighted during the training was the role of Local Committees in ensuring access to justice for women who may not have access to an Internal Committee. Participants were informed that women working in the unorganized sector, including domestic workers, can file complaints of sexual harassment before the Local Committee established at the district level under the POSH Act. This provision ensures that women working outside formal organizational structures are also able to seek redressal and support.
The training also included deliberations on the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 and the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, highlighting the importance of a coordinated approach towards women’s safety, protection and empowerment.
Concluding the programme, the Director urged participants to carry forward the learnings from the training and strengthen awareness, prevention and grievance redressal mechanisms in their respective districts and institutions. She reiterated the Department’s commitment to creating safe, inclusive and gender-sensitive workplaces across Haryana.
