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Hans India
a day ago
- Politics
- Hans India
All depts asked to ensure women safety at workplace
Bhubaneswar: TheOdisha government on Thursday directed all departments to ensure women's safety at workplaces in the State. The direction came in the wake of the self-immolation death of a college student following an alleged inaction by the authorities over her complaint of sexual harassment against a teacher. Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja wrote to all government departments to ensure compliance with the Provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 by all institutions or organisations. In the letter, the Chief Secretary said that the implementation of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Act in workplaces and institutions is essential to ensure a safe, respectful and inclusive environment for all, particularly women. He has also directed the department heads and authorities that the compliance report on the action points be submitted to the Department of Women and Child Development within 15 days. 'Sexual harassment not only violates an individual's dignity and rights but also undermines productivity, morale and equal opportunities,' he said. Ahuja also mentioned in the letter that by enforcing the POSH Act, organisations fulfil their legal and ethical responsibility to prevent, prohibit and redress instances of harassment. He said it fosters a culture of accountability, encourages reporting without fear and builds trust among employees or members, ultimately contributing to a healthier and more equitable work or institutional space. Ahuja has also advised all the department authorities to go for the constitution of Internal Committee (IC), capacity building and sensitisation, time-bound inquiry and redressal mechanism, annual reporting and transparency and responsibility of management. 'The head of the institution shall be held personally responsible for ensuring effective implementation of the POSH Act, as well as for any lapses in safeguarding complainants and preventing retaliation,' Ahuja said. The Chief Secretary also asked all administrative heads to constitute or revalidate IC and ensure meeting of IC once in a month for the next six months to create awareness and build momentum for the campaign against sexual harassment in educational institutions. Thereafter, the ICs should meet in each quarter as per the Act. He asked the authorities to ensure the grievance redressal mechanism, such as the She-Box portal, along with details of the IC, is prominently displayed in multiple locations in all institutions, mandate periodic awareness and capacity-building sessions for all staff and students, monitor and enforce compliance through regular inspections and require all institutions to submit status reports. The college and school authorities are also told to regularly visit educational institutions and interact with students, the Chief Secretary said. The second-year student of Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore died at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar on Monday night. She had set herself on fire on the college campus on July 12 over inaction against a professor who allegedly sexually harassed her. Stating that the State government is committed to ensuring the safety, dignity and empowerment of women in all educational and professional environments, Ahuja said district administrations are therefore expected to act with urgency and diligence to create a safe environment for girls and women and uphold the provisions of the law in both letter and spirit.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Odisha government expedites POSH implementation across State
Jolted by a student's self-immolation following the alleged failure to redress her complaint of harassment, and the subsequent national outrage, the Odisha government on Friday (July 18, 2025) directed all colleges to sensitise teachers, non-teaching staff and students on the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, within three days. The State government also issued instructions to display the women's helpline number 181 at strategic locations on educational campuses. All universities and colleges have been asked to organise sensitisation workshops on the provisions of the POSH Act and the University Grants Commission (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of Sexual Harassment of Women Employees and Students in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2015. Since July 14, the State government has issued a series of directives to colleges, schools and government offices to constitute internal committees as mandated under the POSH Act. 'The State government is committed to ensuring the safety, dignity and empowerment of women in all educational and professional environment. District administrations are therefore expected to act with urgency and diligence to create a safe environment for girls and women and uphold the provisions of the law in both letter and spirit,' State Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja wrote in a letter addressed to all departments on Thursday (July 18, 2025). Mr. Ahuja also stressed on the constitution of internal complaint committees, capacity building and sensitisation, time-bound inquiry and redressal mechanisms, as well as annual reporting and transparency. Meanwhile, the Biju Janata Dal has announced a plan to organise a massive picketing of all Revenue Divisional Commissioners' offices on July 21.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
Following backlash, premier Odisha university withdraws order imposing restrictions on women staff and students
Cuttack's premier Ravenshaw University has withdrawn its order asking women faculty, staff and students not to stay on campus past 5.30 pm in the face of backlash. The order, issued by the registrar of the 157-year-old storied institution but withdrawn hours later, said: 'No female faculty, staff and students are permitted to remain in the workplace or on campus after 5.30 pm. This decision will remain in place until a formal Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) is issued, which will outline the necessary guidelines and protocols for work hours and safety measures'. It was withdrawn through a separate order. According to sources, university authorities may have been prompted to take the step in the wake of a student's suicide following alleged sexual harassment at a college in Odisha. 'However, the higher education department interfered saying that such an order would send the wrong message,' one official said. When contacted, the university's registrar refused to comment, saying only that the order stood withdrawn. Founded in 1868 with intermediate level classes at Cuttack Zilla School – known now as Ravenshaw Collegiate School — the Ravenshaw University became a degree college in 1876 and eventually became a state university. The college was named after Thomas Edward Ravenshaw, a British officer who remained in charge of Orissa until 1878, and was initially affiliated to Calcutta University. Meanwhile, Odisha government has directed all departments to ensure strict compliance with the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 by all institutions/organisations. In a letter to all secretaries and collectors, the Odisha Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja asked for strict implementation of the POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) Act in workplaces and institutions to ensure a safe, respectful and inclusive environment, particularly for women.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Chief secy directs implementation of POSH Act
Bhubaneswar: Chief secretary Manoj Ahuja on Thursday issued strict directives to all departments regarding implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. The move comes in the wake of the tragic death of a college student in Balasore. In a letter addressed to all additional chief secretaries, principal secretaries, commissioner-cum-secretaries, regional development commissioners and collectors, Ahuja stressed the critical importance of creating a safe and respectful environment for women in educational institutions and workplaces. The key directives include the mandatory constitution of internal committees (IC)s in institutions with 10 or more employees, monthly IC meetings for the next six months, followed by quarterly meetings, and the prominent display of grievance redressal mechanisms, including the She-Box portal. Besides, the directives of the chief secretary also stressed regular awareness and capacity-building sessions for staff and students in the institutions and departments, along with strict monitoring and accountability measures for institutional heads. All departments are required to submit a compliance report to the women and child development department within 15 days, the directive said. The chief secretary made it clear that heads of institutions will be held personally responsible for implementing the POSH Act and protecting complainants from retaliation. District administrations have been instructed to conduct regular inspections and ensure compliance through status reports.
News18
2 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Odisha asks all department heads to ensure women safety in workplace
Agency: Bhubaneswar, Jul 17 (PTI) The Odisha government on Thursday directed all departments to ensure women's safety in workplaces in the state. The direction came in the wake of the self-immolation death of a college student following an alleged inaction by the authorities over her complaint of sexual harassment against a teacher. Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja wrote to all government departments to ensure compliance with the Provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 by all institutions or organisations. In the letter, the chief secretary said that the implementation of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Act in workplaces and institutions is essential to ensure a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all, particularly women. He has also directed the department heads and authorities that the compliance report on the action points be submitted to the Department of Women and Child Development within 15 days. 'Sexual harassment not only violates an individual's dignity and rights but also undermines productivity, morale, and equal opportunities," he said. Ahuja also mentioned in the letter that by enforcing the POSH Act, organisations fulfil their legal and ethical responsibility to prevent, prohibit, and redress instances of harassment. Ahuja has also advised all the department authorities to go for the constitution of Internal Committee (IC), capacity building and sensitisation, time-bound inquiry and redressal mechanism, annual reporting and transparency and responsibility of management. 'The head of the institution shall be held personally responsible for ensuring effective implementation of the POSH Act, as well as for any lapses in safeguarding complainants and preventing retaliation," Ahuja said. The chief secretary also asked all administrative heads to constitute or revalidate IC and ensure meeting of IC once in a month for the next six months to create awareness and build momentum for the campaign against sexual harassment in educational institutions. Thereafter, the ICs should meet in each quarter as per the Act. He also said that the authorities to ensure that the grievance redressal mechanism, such as the She-Box portal, along with details of the IC is prominently displayed in multiple locations in all institutions, mandate periodic awareness and capacity-building sessions for all staff and students, monitor and enforce compliance through regular inspections and require all institutions to submit status reports. The college and school authorities are also told to regularly visit educational institutions and interact with students, the chief secretary said. The second-year student of Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore died at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar on Monday night. She had set herself on fire on the college campus on July 12 over inaction against a professor who allegedly sexually harassed her. Stating that the state government is committed to ensuring the safety, dignity, and empowerment of women in all educational and professional environments, Ahuja said district administrations are therefore expected to act with urgency and diligence to create a safe environment for girls and women and uphold the provisions of the law in both letter and spirit. PTI AAM NN view comments First Published: July 17, 2025, 22:45 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
