In a significant move to promote a safe learning environment, the Odisha government has mandated all government and private universities and colleges within the state to set up internal panels dedicated to handling sexual harassment complaints. This directive comes in the wake of an alleged sexual harassment incident at Utkal University, a prominent institution in Odisha.
The state’s Higher Education Department, in a letter addressed to all heads of public and private educational institutions, instructed them to form these internal complaint committees in accordance with the provisions outlined in the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. This Act emphasizes the importance of such committees in addressing grievances related to sexual harassment and fostering a respectful work environment.
The letter, released on Monday, underscores the legal obligation for each institution to establish an internal complaint committee as stipulated in Section 4 of the Act. The department has also issued a deadline of September 30, 2024, for the submission of compliance reports from all higher education institutions.
Beyond the legal mandate, the directive also urges universities and colleges to prioritize creating a secure and supportive environment for both students and employees. The PoSH Act mandates the establishment of such committees within each workplace to effectively address internal complaints related to sexual harassment.
To ensure a comprehensive and impartial approach, the Act outlines the composition of these committees. Each committee must include a presiding officer who is a senior woman employee from the institution, at least two other employees, and one member from an NGO or association dedicated to women’s issues. The Act further stipulates that at least half of the total members nominated to these committees must be women.
