Imphal: A sensitization programme on “Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (prevention, prohibition and redressal) Act, 2013 was held at the auditorium of the Directorate of Information & Public Relations (DIPR), Nityaipat Chuthek, Imphal, on Thursday. The programme was organized by the Manipur State Commission for Women (MSCW) in association with the Directorate of Information & Public Relations (DIPR).
Speaking as Chief Guest of the function, Chairperson Thumlip Tiningpham Monsang said that the programme was organised mainly to sensitize the women on various issues related to workplace harassment and its prevention, prohibition and redressal.
Women face various kinds of harassment at the workplace, despite occupying 50 per cent of the workforce in general. To avoid such cases of harassment, Act and Rules are enacted to empower women by the Government, she added.
She said that in workplace or institutions where women employees are required to discharge their duties beyond official working hours, such as the Directorate of Information & Public Relations (DIPR), it is very important to have the knowledge of “Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (prevention, prohibition and redressal) Act, 2013.
The Chairperson further added that even though the provision of women empowerment has been given, it is meaningless until and unless we apply it in in our daily lives.
Ngangom Uttam Singh, Director, IPR and MAHUD, in his Presidential speech said a conducive environment is important to bring substantive equality between male and female. Gender equality starts from family and we should educate our children on the importance of doing household chores irrespective of gender.
Speaking on the various provisions of the Act, he said that every employer is required to constitute an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) at each workplace with 10(ten) or more employees. ICC should have a minimum of 4 (four) members, with at least half of them being women. The ICC will also cover issues of the harassment cases faced by Transgender as well. Similarly, District Officers are required to constitute a Local Complaints Committee (LCC) at District level.
He also said that the State has already implemented Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) number 112 wherein, all emergency numbers like 100 for police, 101 for fire, 102 for ambulance, 181 for Women Helpline and 1098 for Child Helpline, 14567 for Senior Citizen have been integrated. The ERSS number 112 is toll free and a person can dial ‘112’ despite having no mobile talk time balance.
During the interaction session, Th. Rajkishore Singh, Advocate, Legal Advisor of MSWC speaking as the resource person highlighted the importance of The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. Sexual harassment of women at workplaceviolates a woman’s fundamental rights to equality (Article 14 and 15), dignity and a safe environment (Article 21) under the Indian Constitution.
Women employees of both Government & private and domestic workers (a woman employed to do household work in any household for remuneration) are covered under the act. The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, applies to all workplaces, both public and private, formal and informal including hospitals, educational institutions and other establishments where women are employed.
For non-criminal offenses, the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC)/Local Complaints Committee (LCC) will refer for Departmental Enquiry and subsequently CCS Conduct rules will be applied for misconduct. If the charges are found to be criminal, the case will be referred to the police and Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) Act, 2023 Section 79 will be applied. Section 79 of BNS Act, 2023 deals with protection of women from actions that insult their modesty including words, gestures, or objects to offend a woman, or intruding on her privacy.
W. Phajatombi Devi, Additional Director, IPR and Member Secretary, MSCW, MSCW Members Lourembam Dayabati and T. ChuongsinKoireng were on the dais as the guest of honours. Officials and staff of the Directorate and representatives of Manipur State Commission for Women attended the sensitization programme.
