Latest news with #ProhibitionandRedressalofSexualHarassmentofWomenEmployees
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.
New Indian Express
7 days ago
- 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.
