As per the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Prevention) Act 2013, committees were supposed to be formed in every workplace to address complaints of sexual harassment but even after the Supreme Court rulings no steps were taken in the state for implementation. State Women’s Commission (SWC) chairperson Vijaya Barthwal has sent a letter to the chief secretary about taking necessary steps to form such committees in the government and non-governmental workplaces.
Barthwal said, “As per the Act the formation of such committees comes under the fundamental rights of the working women. Every governmental, non-governmental institute like registered schools, hospitals etc are supposed to form such committees. It is mandatory for every workplace to have a sexual harassment complaint committee so that women can complain in the cell easily and necessary actions could be taken in time by the organisation concerned.”
She further said, “However even after the directions by the Supreme Court many non-governmental and governmental organisations in the state do not have such committees. A letter has been sent to the chief secretary so that necessary steps regarding the matter can be taken and all the firms including governmental and non-governmental are notified to form such committees sooner possible.”