Lok Sabha Question No. 3236 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-04
Subject: Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3236

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2017

## SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF WOMEN AT WORKPLACE

## 3236.   SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the salient features of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 in the country;
- (b) whether the Government has received the lists of companies which have constituted the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the  number of complaints related to sexual harassment of women at work place received/reported by the Government under the Act through ICC in the country during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise and institution wise along with the action taken thereon; and
- (d) the measures taken by the Government for stringent implementation of the Act and against those companies and other bodies for non-constitution of ICC?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI  KRISHNA  RAJ)

- (a) 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.  If  any employer  fails  to  constitute  an  Internal  Complaint  Committee,  or contravenes  or  attempts  or  abets contravention of other provisions of this Act or any rules made there under, he shall be punishable with fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees.

- (b) & (c) : 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 and maintain data on the number of cases filed and disposed off and there is no centralized mechanism to collect such data.
- (d): The State Government have 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 sector.

On  2 nd June,  2017,  the  Ministry  has  issued  advisories  to  all  States/UTs  Government  for  effective implementation  of  the  Act  advising  them  to  organise  workshops  and  awareness  programmes  in  the Departments/offices  for  sensitising  the  employees  about  the  provisions  of  the  said  Act.    Secretary Industries/Commerce  of  the  States/UTs  have  also  been  advised  to  organize  workshops  and  awareness programmes in each and every industry, business house, private sector entity.