Internal Complaints Committee in workplaces is mandatory, says Women’s Commission chief

Officials told to sensitise men and women to the presence of the committee in their workplace

Taking note of the absence of an Internal Complaints Committee in certain workplaces, Chairperson of Karnataka State Commission for Women Nagalakshmi Choudhary has said that the formation of such a committee is mandatory as per the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013 enacted by the Union government.

“The constitution of the committee is compulsory. You need to ensure that all offices, factories and other workplaces have a committee before which women can raise issues of sexual harassment and other forms of discrimination in the workplace. You must also sensitise men and women to the presence of the committee in their workplace,” she said, during a review meeting in Ballari on Friday.

When the issue of women’s safety in public places was discussed, Superintendent of Police V.J. Shobha Rani said that a special team named Nava Durgi has been formed and it carries out patrols in public places such as schools, colleges, gardens and bus stands.

To Ms. Choudhary’s question on the steps taken up by the district administration to prevent child marriages, Ms. Rani described the multiple steps that are in place to sensitise people against the social menace.

“People-friendly policing plays a crucial role in the positive transformation of society. Police should especially transform themselves into a woman-friendly force. No woman should hesitate to approach the police when she is harassed and sexually assaulted. When a woman comes to a police station with a grievance, the police should infuse the confidence in her that she will get justice,” Ms. Choudhary said.

Hostel facilities

She also directed the officers concerned to provide basic needs such as clean drinking water, nutritious food and hot water for baths in all hostels.

“When I visited Sanganakallu, women there told me that liquor shops ruined their families. The administration must pay attention to this. Excise Department officials must pay surprise visits to villages to see whether liquor is sold illegally,” she said.

Deputy Commissioner Prashant Kumar Mishra directed the District Health and Family Welfare Officer to ensure that operation theatres, laboratories, overhead tanks and other vital installations at all health facilities in the district are cleaned at least once a month.

Deputy Director of Women and Child Development Vijay Kumar, Backward Classes Welfare Officer Jalalappa and other senior officers were present.

Published - December 13, 2024 07:27 pm IST