Odisha CM: Shaktishree Programme to roll out soon in over 700 colleges, varsities
This comes in the wake of the death of a 20-year-old college girl in Odisha's Balasore district following a self-immolation attempt over her sexual harassment by a professor.
'The Shaktishree Programme is a decisive step toward making our campuses safer, inclusive, and empowering for our daughters. It is not just a scheme—it is a movement for gender equality and respect,' Majhi said.
Every college and university will form a Shaktishree Empowerment Cell, a student-led body, which will be managed by a female student, the 'Shaktishree Saathi', and mentored by a female faculty member, the 'Shaktishree Coordinator'. Additionally, five accomplished working women, nominated by the district collector, will serve as 'Shakti Apas'. They will visit campuses quarterly to guide and mentor students.
Also Read: A wake-up call from Odisha
An annual workshop titled 'Shakti Swarupini' will be held for all Shaktishree Saathis, Coordinators, and Apas. The cell will organise a six-day training program covering self-defence, legal rights, mental health, and digital safety awareness.
A dedicated Shaktishree App is in the pipeline too, Majhi said. The app will allow female students to anonymously report harassment, consult mental health professionals, access Tele-MANAS services, and use an SOS emergency button to seek immediate help. The app will also provide details of internal committees and offer escalation mechanisms if complaints are not adequately addressed.
Majhi added that a special Code of Conduct for faculty and non-teaching staff will be implemented, along with mandatory annual online training on gender sensitivity and women's safety. Under the SAFE (Shaktishree Actions for Female Empowerment) Campaign, camps and workshops on self-defense will be held.
Also Read: Girl, 15, set on fire by 3 men in Odisha's Puri days after Balasore student's self-immolation
An online course on The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act) and University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines will be introduced for students and staff.
Also, CCTV cameras will be installed at key locations based on internal recommendations, and a control room will monitor the live feeds, Majhi said.
All higher educational institutions will be required to submit an Annual Campus Safety Report by December 31.
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2 days ago
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It said all teaching and non-teaching staff shall undergo mandatory training at least twice a year, conducted by certified mental health professionals, on psychological first-aid, identification of warning signs, response to self-harm, and referral mechanisms. The bench said all educational institutions shall ensure that all staffs are adequately trained to engage with students from vulnerable and marginalised backgrounds in a sensitive, inclusive, and non-discriminatory manner. "This shall include, but not be limited to, students belonging to Scheduled Castes , Scheduled Tribes , Other Backward Classes , Economically Weaker Sections , LGBTQ communities, students with disabilities, those in out-of-home care, and students affected by bereavement, trauma, or prior suicide attempts, or intersecting form of marginalisation," it said. The bench said every such institution shall constitute an internal committee or designated authority empowered to take immediate action on complaints about sexual harrasment, ragging and others and provide psycho-social support to victims. It said all educational Institutions shall regularly organise sensitisation programmes for parents and guardians on student mental health. It said mental health literacy, emotional regulation, life skills education and awareness of institutional support services shall be integrated into student orientation programmes and co-curricular activities. "All educational institutions shall maintain anonymised records and prepare an annual report indicating the number of wellness interventions, student referrals, training sessions, and mental health-related activities," the bench said. It said examination patterns shall be periodically reviewed to reduce academic burden and to cultivate a broader sense of identity among students beyond test scores and ranks. It said all educational institutions, including coaching centres and training institutes, shall provide regular, structured career counselling services for students and their parents or guardians. "All residential-based educational institutions, including hostel owners, wardens and caretakers, shall take proactive steps to ensure that campuses remain free from harassment, bullying, drugs....," the bench said. It asked the Centre to file a compliance affidavit before the court within 90 days. "The affidavit shall also indicate the expected timeline for the completion of the report and recommendations of the National Task Force on mental health concerns of students," it said. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
