SHe-box launched for govt staff to report harassment at work

AT PRESENT, THERE EXISTS NO CENTRALISED MECHANISM TO COLLECT DATA ON COMPLAINTS REGISTERED AND DISPOSED OF

NEW DELHI : Help is now a click away for the government’s women employees who face sexual harassment at work.

The Union women and child development (WCD) ministry on Monday launched “SHe-box” — an online portal for the women employee to report cases of sexual harassment or abuse at the workplace.

Launching the portal, WCD minister Maneka Gandhi said her ministry will soon conduct a national survey to assess the nature and magnitude of sexual harassment at workplaces across the country.

“Once a complaint is registered, we will forward it to the ministry/department where the woman works. We will also follow it up with the respective ministry as to what action has been taken,” a senior official said.

Officials said the ministry had been getting numerous complaints from women employees alleging delay in investigation of such cases, which necessitated the need to set up the SHe-box.

“Also, in many cases, women are hesitant to come forward and complain against a colleague/ senior. SHe-box provides anonymity,” the official said.

While the initiative is a welcome step, its effectiveness will depend on how it’s implemented and the ministry’s response to such complaints. Despite Parliament having cleared the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act in February 2013, its implementation has so far remained patchy.

Many organisations — both in public and private sector — are yet to set up an internal complaints committee (ICC) to handle sexual harassment related grievances, a mandatory provision under the Act.

“We keep asking government organisations and private firms for report on whether the ICC are functional and how many complaints have been filed and disposed of. The response has not been good and compliance is limited,” the ministry official said.