Ensuring Women’s Safety at Workplace is Our Collective Responsibility: DC Neha Singh

– All institutions must comply with the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013

– Providing women with a safe, dignified, and fear-free work environment is the administration’s top priority

Sonipat, July 6

Deputy Commissioner Neha Singh stated that ensuring every woman has access to a safe, dignified, and fear-free workplace is the administration’s highest priority. She said that any form of sexual harassment at the workplace is not only a punishable offence under the law but also a violation of a woman’s dignity and fundamental rights. She emphasized that the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 was enacted to ensure a safe working environment for women, and it is mandatory for every government and private institution to implement its provisions sincerely.

The Deputy Commissioner informed that the Act applies not only to regular women employees but also to contractual workers, interns, trainees, consultants, volunteers, domestic workers, and women engaged in any form of employment or work arrangement. She explained that unwelcome physical contact, demands or requests for sexual favours, sexually coloured remarks, obscene comments, offensive messages, emails, or objectionable content sent through social media, as well as any other form of sexual harassment at the workplace, constitute punishable offences under the law.

She further stated that every woman has the right to a safe and respectful workplace, the right to file a complaint, the right to confidentiality, and the right to a fair and time-bound inquiry. Under Section 16 of the Act, the identities of the complainant, respondent, witnesses, and all information related to the inquiry must be kept strictly confidential. Any violation of these provisions may invite stringent action against the concerned individual or institution in accordance with the law.

The Deputy Commissioner directed all government departments, boards, corporations, educational institutions, and private establishments employing 10 or more employees to mandatorily constitute an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), including one external member. She also instructed institutions to organize regular awareness and sensitization programmes for employees to promote a respectful and gender-sensitive workplace environment.

She informed that an aggrieved woman may lodge a complaint with the Internal Complaints Committee of the concerned institution, the Local Committee constituted at the district level, the notified Nodal Officer, or through the Government of India’s online portal, SHe-Box. Complaints may be filed within three months of the incident, and the time limit may be extended in appropriate circumstances as provided under the rules.

The Deputy Commissioner said that ensuring the dignity and safety of women is not only the responsibility of the administration but of society as a whole. She urged all institutions to strictly comply with the provisions of the Act and create a safe, positive, and inclusive work environment where every woman can perform her duties without fear, discrimination, or harassment.