Nawanshahr- As per the instructions issued by the Director Social Security and Women and Child Development Department Punjab, a meeting was held with the heads of various departments as per the instructions received from Additional Deputy Commissioner (J) Rajiv Verma to implement the 'Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act 2013' in the district.
Inaugurating the meeting, District Program Officer Jagroop Singh said that as per the instructions issued by the Hon'ble Supreme Court, a survey is being conducted to ensure the safety of women, in which it is being seen whether an Internal Complaints Committee has been formed keeping in mind the safety of women in government and non-government offices at the district level or not.
Giving information in this regard, the District Program Officer said that to ensure the safety of women, the government has implemented the Harassment of Women at Workplace Act 2013 (POSH Act), under which a local complaint committee has been formed at the district level. Detailed information and instructions about which have been uploaded on the district website Nawanshahr.nic.in.
Giving more information in this regard, District Child Protection Officer Kanchan Arora said that an internal complaint committee is to be formed in all government and non-government offices. She said that a committee will be formed in writing at every workplace, in which a woman prosecution officer, a member with a social worker and legal background, along with this a representative of an NGO will also be a member of the committee.
Half the members of the internal complaint committee will be women and if a woman feels uncomfortable at her workplace or is a victim of any kind of sexual harassment, then she can lodge a written complaint to the internal complaint committee constituted in her office. If for some reason an internal complaint committee has not been constituted in any office, then she can register her complaint to the local complaint committee constituted at the district level.
If any such complaint is received by a woman, then the complaint will be settled by the concerned committee within the time limit given as per the Act. After this, District Mission Coordinator Supriya Thakur told the heads of all the departments present in the meeting that in whichever department 10 or more employees work, they should form an internal complaint committee in their respective offices and provide its information to the District Program Officer Office, Room No. 309, 2nd Floor, District Administrative Complex and on the e-mail ID [email protected].
She said that this should be given top priority so that a safe environment can be provided to working women. She said that regarding the formation of internal complaint committee in offices, one can also contact on telephone number 01823-281797.