Women Development and Child Welfare (WD&CW) Secretary H. Arun Kumar has asked the heads of various government departments to act on complaints received by the Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) and provide safe environment for women at workplaces. He was speaking at a two-day orientation programme organised by WD&CW Department.
The Supreme Court had ordered constitution of ICCs and conducting training programmes on Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, Mr. Kumar said.
As per the Act, every employer or the head of the department should constitute ICC at all offices where the number of employees is more than 10. The District Collectors should constitute Local Complaint Committees to receive the complaints for any company or establishment, having less than 10 employees.
The Act provides right to work with dignity and provide protection against sexual harassment, said the Secretary and explained to the ICC members how to act on the complaints, inquiry process and some case studies.
Resource agency empanelled by Government of India, Posh at Work, representative and advocate Sana Hakim elucidated on redressal mechanism, evidence gathering, sensitive interviewing, drafting of inquiry report and other provisions related to sexual harassment.
Later, the officials answered the queries raised by the participants.
ICC members from Horticulture, Prohibition and Excise, Sainik Welfare, Sports Authority, Tribal Welfare, Agriculture and Marketing, Labour, Mines and Geology, Crime Investigation Department, AP Prisons and other departments attended the workshop.