Latest news with #Prevention
The Hindu
4 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.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
Ensure women & kids are safe: Govt to hotels
Panaji: The tourism department has issued a stern directive to all hotels, guesthouses, and homestay operators to take immediate measures to protect vulnerable children and provide women with a safe working environment within the hospitality sector. The department's directive comes in view of rising incidents of children being abused and molested in hotel rooms. The department has reminded hotels that they must prevent the entry of children into any room unless they are registered as staying with family or relatives. 'Goa is committed to ensuring a safe and inclusive environment not just for visitors, but also for those working within the tourism sector. All stakeholders are urged to comply strictly with the provisions of law and implement all required safeguards for the protection of children and women. This is non-negotiable,' said tourism director Kedar Naik. Section 8(10) of the Goa Children's Act, 2003, states that all hotels and establishments providing boarding or lodging facilities are mandated to ensure that children are protected from any form of abuse or exploitation within their premises. The tourism department also said the owner of the hotel or guesthouse and the manager will have to bear full responsibility for any contravention of the Goa Children's Act, 2003, which is punishable with imprisonment of up to three years, or a fine up to Rs 1 lakh. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo Hotels and guesthouses have also been asked to adhere to their obligations under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition & Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH) Act. 'All accommodation providers operating within Goa are instructed to comply with these obligations without exception. The department seeks the full cooperation of all stakeholders to uphold Goa's reputation as a safe, responsible, and inclusive tourism destination,' said Naik.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Time of India
UGC forms fact-finding team to probe student's suicide case
Bhubaneswar: University Grants Commission (UGC) on Tuesday constituted a fact-finding committee to look into the student's self-immolation case at a govt college in Balasore and suggest measures to prevent such incidents in the future. The committee comprises four members and is being led by Raj Kumar Mittal, a UGC member and professor at Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi. The other members are Sushma Yadav, a former commission member of the UGC, Ashima Mangla, UGC joint secretary, and Neerja Gupta, vice-chancellor of Gujarat University, Ahmedabad. The committee shall submit a detailed report with findings and recommendations to the UGC within seven days of the issue of this order. According to the terms of reference, the committee will examine the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the availability and effectiveness of factors such as institutional policies, grievance redressal mechanisms, anti-harassment measures adopted as well as student support systems. It will inspect the status of compliance by the institution with the provisions of the University Grants Commission (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of Sexual Harassment of Women Employees and Students in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2015, notified on May 2, 2016, and other guidelines issued by the UGC from time to time. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cardiologists Recommend: Eat 1 Teaspoon Tonight – Wake Up With a Flatter Stomach Hollywood News | USA Click Here Undo The committee will conduct an on-site assessment to verify the actual implementation of measures adopted by the institution for ensuring the safety of female students and well-being policies, beyond documented compliance. "Engagement with stakeholders, including students, faculty administrators, and support staff, to assess institutional culture, student experience, and challenges faced. Suggest measures for the prevention of such incidents in the future," the UGC letter read.
New Indian Express
15-07-2025
- New Indian Express
UGC forms fact-finding committee to examine FM College
The committee will examine the circumstances surrounding the incident, including availability/effectiveness of factors such as institutional policies, grievance redressal mechanisms, anti-harassment measures adopted and student support systems. Besides, it will check the status of compliance by the FM College to the provisions of UGC (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of Sexual Harassment of Women Employees and Students in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2015 and other guidelines issued by UGC from time to time. The committee will specifically examine the institution's compliance to the provision of Regulation 3 of the UGC regulations that stipulates the responsibilities of the higher education institutions in preventing and addressing sexual harassment on campuses. The panel members will do an on-site assessment to verify the actual implementation of measures adopted by the college for ensuring safety of female students and well-being policies, beyond the documented compliance. They will also meet stakeholders including students, faculty members and support staff to assess the institutional culture, experiences of students and the challenges they face. The committee will suggest measures for the prevention of such incidents in future. The UGC has asked the committee to submit a detailed report on findings and recommendations to it within a week.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Govt seeks compliance from edu institutes on ICC
Bhubaneswar: In view of the self-immolation attempt by a 20-year-old student over alleged sexual harassment at a college in Balasore district on Saturday, state govt on Monday asked heads of all higher education institutes to submit compliance reports on instructions related to internal complaints committee (ICC) under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, within 24 hours. The higher education department, in an urgent letter, asked the colleges and universities to include appropriate representation of women members and external representatives in the committees. They were also instructed to follow UGC (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of Sexual Harassment of Women Employees and Students in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2015. The department asked the institutes to display the name and contact number of all ICC members in a proper place for general awareness and upload their details in the higher education information management system (HIMS) portal. The govt also directed the institutes to immediately organise workshops on the Act for the sensitisation of students and faculty members. "You are further requested to ensure that a geo-tagged photograph of the location where the details of the ICC are displayed is uploaded to the link positively," wrote Rajata Kumar Mansingh, deputy director of higher education. The department earlier communicated to all colleges and universities about the constitution of ICC. Some colleges do not have ICCs, and some have not formed them as per UGC rules. University Grants Commission (UGC) has been issuing guidelines to all universities and colleges to set up ICCs and take necessary steps to prevent and redress sexual harassment on their campuses. UGC also asked all universities to set up special cells to deal with issues of gender-based violence and conduct gender sensitisation programmes. It suggested the institutes ensure a safe and healthy environment for women students and employees on their campuses as a necessary precondition to quality education and research. Last year, a student of a city-based university lodged a complaint against a faculty member for sexual harassment. The university investigated the matter and suspended the faculty member.
