Harassment at work: Few cases in 2 Telugu states

HYDERABAD: Though there has been a 54% rise in cases of sexual harassment at workplace across the country from 2014 to 2017, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have reported fewer cases compared to other bigger states. This was revealed from data released by the Union women and child development department.

According to the data, the National Commission for women received 31 complaints of sexual harassment at workplace from AP, and 48 cases from Telangana in the past four years. In 2018, till July, only two cases were reported in AP while 10 were reported from Telangana.



In reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of women and child development Virendra Kumar replied, “Overall in the country, NCW received 570 cases of sexual harassment of workplace in 2017 and around 533 cases in 2018 till July. The ministry has launched an online complaint management system titled sexual harassment electronic-box also known as She-Box for registering complaints related to sexual harassment at the workplace for all women employees in the country including both government and private employees. We have informed all ministries and departments to organise workshops and awareness programmes."

Advisor to National Commission for Women and former Chairperson Telangana State Women Commission Tirupraram Venkatratnam told TOI, ”Though the act was enacted in 2013, many of the government offices have not formed internal committees to probe these cases. Such committes are set up only after complaints are received.”

“We have received complaints of casting couch, and we referred it to the Film Development Corporation. We are taking consultations on Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act 2013 for possible amendments,” added Venkatratnam.