Private institutions which have not set up internal complaints committees mandated by Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act-2013 will soon come under the scrutiny of Hyderabad district administration.
As the district collectorate launched its anti-sexual harassment at workplace drive on May 2, with a scheduled meeting with different stakeholders including NGO workers, it was mandated for all commercial establishments to set up mechanism to prevent instances of sexual harassment. As per the Act, institutions are expected to establish grievance redress mechanism including a complaints committee. It also mandates a campaign within the organisation to ensure gender sensitisation of employees.
The anti-sexual harassment drive was launched by District Collector Yogitha Rana. The committees should have a woman employee at a senior level in the workplace. Half the members in the committee should be women. The presiding officer and members of the committee can hold the office for three years.
Local complaints panel
Hyderabad district will have a local complaints committee to receive and arbitrate complaints of sexual harassment from working women of the district. This committee can receive complaints from establishments where the work force is less than 10 persons.
The chairperson of this committee will be appointed by nomination from various stakeholders including non-governmental organisations. The chairperson will also have to be a woman. One member will have to be nominated from among women working at block or taluk level while the other two can be nominated from non-governmental organisations. In this committee there will be at least one member with background in legal education.
According to the initial plan, collectorate officials will also collate information about establishments from where there are repeated complaints.
If complaints reach the local committee because establishments failed to constitute internal complaints committee despite complaints from women employees, the former can recommend action against the defaulters. “All officials and stakeholders were informed that they will have to take active participation in creating safe work environment for women,” Ms. Rana explained.
Stakeholders of the meeting organised on Wednesday have also suggested setting up of separate complaint cells for women who work in unorganised sector including domestic workers.
