SHe-Box to Prevent Sexual Harassment at Workplace

In order to ensure the effective implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace, the Government has launched an online complaint management system titled Sexual Harassment electronic –Box (SHe-Box) for registering complaints related to sexual harassment at workplace of all women employees in the country, including government and private employees. So far, 107 complaints have been received through portal ‘SHe-box’. All concerned authorities have been requested for appropriate resolution. You can access SHe-Box through following link.

http://www.shebox.nic.in/

Ministry of Women and Child Development had issued advisories to all States/UTs Government to ensure effective implementation of the Act. The Ministries/Departments in Government of India have also been advised to ensure the compliance of the Act from time to time.Ministry of Corporate Affairs along with the industry bodies, Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Confederation of Indian Society, Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCI), and National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) have also been requested to ensure effective implementation of the Act amongst their members in private sectors.

The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 mandates all the workplace which include any department, organisation, undertaking, establishment, enterprise, institution, office, branch or unit which is established, owned, controlled or wholly or substantially financed by funds provided directly or indirectly by the appropriate Government or the local authority or a Government company or a corporation or a co-operative society having more than 10 workers to constitute Internal Complaint Committee (ICC) for receiving complaints of sexual harassment.

The Act cast an obligation upon all the employers to constitute Internal Complaint Committee. Section 23 of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 casts responsibility on the appropriate Government to monitor the implementation of this Act.

Apart from the above, the Ministry has empanelled Institutes/Organizations for imparting training programmes/workshops in different parts of the country under Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.

This information was given by Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Dr. Virendra Kumar in reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

About the Act

1. The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 was passed by the Lok Sabha  on 3 September 2012 and by the Rajya Sabha  on 26 February 2013.The Bill got the President assent on 23 April 2013 and came into force from 9 December 2013.
2. The act was enacted in view of the guidelines issued by the Honorable Supreme Court of India in ‘Vishaka & Ors vs State Of Rajasthan & Ors’ case on 13 August, 1997.
3.  The act mandates all the workplace which include any department, organisation, undertaking, establishment, enterprise, institution, office, branch or unit which is established, owned, controlled or wholly or substantially financed by funds provided directly or indirectly by the appropriate Government or the local authority or a Government company or a corporation or a co-operative society having more than 10 workers to constitute Internal Complaint Committee (ICC) for receiving complaints of sexual harassment.
4. The Act cast an obligation upon all the employers to constitute Internal Complaint Committee.
5. Section 23 of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 casts responsibility on the appropriate Government to monitor the implementation of this Act.
6. Apart from the above, the Ministry has empanelled Institutes/Organizations for imparting training programmes/workshops in different parts of the country under Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.

What is Sexual Harassment?

• Honorable Supreme Court of India has defined the term ‘Sexual Harassment’ in Vishaka case.  According to the Apex court, ‘sexual harassment includes such unwelcome sexually determined behaviour (whether directly or by implication) as:
  a) physical contact and advances;
  b) a demand or request for sexual favours;
  c) sexually coloured remarks;
  d) showing pornography;
  e) any other unwelcome physical verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature.
  The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 has adopted the same definition as given by the Supreme Court.