Latest news with #POSHAct
New Indian Express
37 minutes ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
No ICCs, no salary to staff: Cuttack administration tells HEIs
BHUBANESWAR: The Cuttack administration has decided to stop the salaries of all employees of colleges and higher secondary schools in the district till they submit the mandatory compliance reports on constitution of internal complaints committees (ICCs) under the POSH Act in their institutions. Principals of the colleges will also face suspension if they fail to ensure that the directive is followed. District collector Dattatraya Bhausaheb Shinde said the higher educational institutions have to ensure strict compliance of the government directive on ICCs and no delay will be tolerated in this regard. Following the self-immolation incident on the FM Autonomous College campus in Balasore on July 12, the Higher Education department had on July 15 directed all colleges and universities in the state to submit compliance reports on ICCs under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, or the POSH Act, within 24 hours. The institutions were also directed to publicly display the names and contact details of ICC members for students' awareness. Subsequently, the Cuttack administration had asked for the compliance reports from principals of aided, non-aided government degree colleges and higher secondary schools and also sought details on complaints of sexual harassment made by students of the institutions so far. However, till July 21, no institution except Mahanga Women's College had submitted the report or case details following which the collector directed the additional district magistrate (ADM) and sub-collectors to withhold salaries of employees of defaulting institutions. 'Appropriate action may be taken against the head of defaulting institutions by withholding the salary of the entire establishment of the defaulting offices,' the collector's directive read. In addition, college principals were warned of suspension if complete ICC reports were not submitted within 24 hours. ADM Shibo Toppo said they have written to the heads of the institutions for the second time since July 15 seeking the ICC constitution reports, case details and action taken on such cases. There are 70 degree colleges and 131 higher secondary schools in Cuttack district. Following the warning, Cuttack City College submitted its report to the administration. There are close to 1,057 degree colleges and 17 universities in the state and till last week, nearly 500 of them had submitted the ICC compliance reports.
Hans India
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Raise voice against sexual harassment: Pravati
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida on Wednesday urged working women to fearlessly raise their voice against sexual harassment at workplaces and fight for their rights. Speaking at an orientation programme on POSH Act (2013) at the State secretariat, Lok Seva Bhawan, Parida said, 'Sexual harassment is not a stigma or taboo. If we remain silent, we empower the harasser. Saying 'no' is your right—use it. The government stands firmly with victims.' Parida, the only woman minister in the Mohan Charan Majhi-led BJP government, also heads the Women and Child Development department. She addressed over 600 government employees, both men and women, at the session designed to raise awareness on Prevention of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (POSH) Act. Emphasising institutional accountability, she said, 'Strict directives have been issued to set up Internal Committees in all institutions and colleges to ensure proper implementation of the Act. Action will be taken against both offenders and those making false accusations.' Parida has been the target of the Opposition BJD and Congress over a brutal attack on a 15-year-old girl in Balanga, under her Nimapara constituency, who was set ablaze by unidentified assailants. Taking aim at the previous BJD regime, Parida said the POSH Act had been neglected since its introduction in 2013. The orientation programme was attended by renowned lawyer Manasi Padhi, who delivered a detailed presentation on the POSH Act during two dedicated sessions. She explained the provisions, rights, responsibilities and redressal mechanisms under the Act in depth. Opposition BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty, however, in an X post said, 'The Deputy Chief Minister must ensure that when a victim speaks, it is not met with institutional silence from the government or her party. Justice should not end with video messages, it must be delivered in action.' He cited the case of a student from FM College, Balasore, who reportedly faced harassment but failed to get justice due to delays and inaction by the college ICC, police and political leaders. 'The common people, along with Opposition parties, are now fighting for justice for our sister. Meanwhile, a minor girl from the area represented by Madam Pravati Parida, was set ablaze and is now fighting for her life,' Mohanty said in the social media post, adding that across Odisha, incidents of sexual harassment are being reported almost daily due to the breakdown of law and order under the BJP government. Meanwhile, in a post on X, Parida, who flew to Delhi after addressing the programme, said: 'I met the victim from Balanga, who is undergoing treatment at Delhi AIIMS. She hails from my constituency. I spoke to her family and relatives. During this visit, I discussed her health condition and treatment with the medical team and specialists providing her care. I pray to the Almighty that she recovers quickly.'
Time of India
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
State to hold programmes on women's safety at workplaces
Bhubaneswar: The state govt is planning to conduct orientation programmes on women's safety at the workplace in various offices to raise awareness about the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. Deputy chief minister Pravati Parida urged all women employees to raise their voices against any kind of harassment at the workplace while addressing an orientation programme for employees of the state secretariat here on Wednesday. "The state govt is firmly committed to creating safe and dignified workplaces for all," said Parida, addressing over 600 govt employees. She stressed the need to foster a culture of respect, equality, and zero tolerance towards sexual harassment in workplaces. "Such orientation programmes should be conducted in all govt offices. Both men and women can be victims. Everyone must be aware of the POSH Act and speak up against any form of harassment. Mutual respect and understanding are essential to ensure not only safe workplaces but also a progressive society," Parida added. She further informed that the govt has issued strict instructions for the formation of internal compalints committees in all institutions and colleges to ensure the effective implementation of the POSH Act. "While genuine complaints will be addressed with due seriousness and appropriate punishment will be meted out after proper investigation, those filing false allegations will also be dealt with as per the law," she added. Legal expert Manasi Padhi conducted two in-depth sessions during the programme, explaining the provisions, responsibilities, and redressal mechanisms under the POSH Act. She sensitised employees and informed them how to prevent and respond to workplace harassment. Apart from women employees of the state secretariat, director of women and child development department Monisha Banerjee and other senior officials were present.
Hans India
3 days ago
- Hans India
‘Shaktishree' launched for safety of girl students
Bhubaneswar: Daysafter the self-immolation death of a college student in Balasore over alleged sexual harassment, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday launched 'Shaktishree', a State-wide initiative to ensure safety, security and empowerment of women in universities and colleges. The Chief Minister described 'Shaktishree' as a 'transformative empowerment and self-defence initiative' that will cover 16 State universities and 730 government and aided colleges. 'This initiative will ensure the safety of girl students and create safer and more inclusive campuses in our higher education institutions,' Majhi said. The Chief Minister said as part of the initiative, every institution will have a 'Shaktishree Empowerment Cell' -- a student-led body coordinated by a woman faculty member and a female student. This cell will focus on promoting safety, self-defence and emotional well-being among students and staff. To provide further support, each district will nominate five senior women professionals, called 'Shakti Apas', who will mentor students and visit campuses every three months. A dedicated mobile app will also be launched that will offer a secure platform for women students and staff to register complaints anonymously — via text, audio, or video — seek counselling and access mental health services through Tele-MANAS, a national mental health initiative. All teaching and non-teaching staff will be required to undergo annual online training related to the POSH Act, 2013, and UGC Regulations, 2015. A mandatory code of conduct will be enforced to ensure professional behaviour and gender sensitisation. In addition, a biannual campaign called SAFE (Shaktishree Actions for Female Empowerment) will be conducted to raise awareness on gender issues, bullying and harassment. Each institution must also submit an annual campus safety report by December 31 every year. To enhance security, campuses will be brought under 24x7 CCTV surveillance. An annual event called 'Shakti Swarupini' will also be held for student and faculty coordinators to receive training, share feedback and strengthen the programme.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Nashik ZP initiates POSH training in district
Nashik: After multiple complaints of sexual harassment against senior zilla parishad (ZP) officials, the administration has initiated prevention of sexual harassment (POSH) training of employees at the taluka level across Nashik district. Under this, ZP employees will be sensitized and educated about what constitutes sexual harassment, its prevention and reporting procedure within the workplace. The idea is to provide for a better and safer environment. Chief executive officer Ashima Mittal, stated that the training is to ensure women come forward and register complaints. "The POSH Act is very strong and provides opportunities to women to present their cases if they feel they are being harassed and abused at the workplace. Many still don't find the courage to speak up against the injustice, and hence the sensitisation workshops are being conducted across all the offices of the zilla parishad," said the CEO. Three cases were filed in the Nashik ZP where senior officials were accused of sexually harassing their subordinates. Following these accusations, state govt suspended one official and the other two were sent on forced leave. The Vishakha Committee had already initiated an investigation which is now complete. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This New AC Cooler Cools the Room In Seconds Coldeez Cooling Ace Undo "The training will give them the necessary information and also the courage to ensure they or their colleagues are heard and do not face any injustice at the workplace for raising their voice. This is not a crime," the CEO added. There are instances when women have no idea about the POSH Act, or even the Vishakha Committee mandated by state govt, where they are heard with identities concealed. "The men and women both need to understand what the POSH Act means and what is defined as harassment. The Vishakha Committee that receives the complaints has to go through each of the complaints and present the report to the govt. The exercise will help bring out the cases of harassment, if any, to the fore," a senior official said.
