Most Government departments, 90 per cent of the private sector and above all, even Parliament do not have the mandatory Sexual Harassment Committees in place. This, despite over a quarter of India’s workforce being women. Minister of Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi acknowledged the near absence of the committees in the Government in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. As the House discussed this issue, BSP MP Satish Chandra Misra pointed out that even the Parliament did not have the committee.
“As far as the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 is concerned, unfortunately, we haven’t been very successful in this,” Maneka said. She added that the Government is trying to find a way in which organisations can be forced to set them up. “I can make the Government do it. But for getting the private sector to establish it, we have been taking up individual cases where woman has been harassed at work; we take up the matter with the company. But instead of doing it on a case-to-case basis, it would be good if we could find out a way in which India would listen to this really important initiative done by the previous Government in 2013,” said Maneka while lauding the UPA Government’s efforts.
Misra chipped in saying, “And looking into Article 51 A which gives this right of protection to the women and we need something in this House.” To this, Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien replied affirmatively saying “it can be examined”. As per Census 2011, the workforce participation rate for females at the national level stands at 25.51 per cent compared with 53.26 per cent for males. Meanwhile, the WCD Ministry has urged the State Governments to take 33 per cent of women as police officers. Maneka talked about the new concept of foster care which the Government is bringing. This will enable older children to be placed with willing families for which the Government will also pay some amount.