Lok Sabha Question No. 77 (STARRED), answered on 2018-12-14
Subject: #MeToo Campaign
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR, MUTHAMSETTI SRINIVASA RAO (AVNTHI)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 77

TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.12.2018

## #METOO CAMPAIGN

77. SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR SHRI MUTHAMSETTI SRINIVASA RAO (AVANTHI):

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

- (a) whether the #MeToo campaign against molesters and rapists has gained momentum in the country;
- (b) if so, the details of the said campaign;
- (c) the action taken or proposed to be taken against such offenders to instil confidence among women at work places to check the number of women leaving/dropping out of the workforce;
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to address such complaints beyond the said campaign which is restricted to perpetrators known on a social media platform; and
- (e) whether the cases of alleged sexual harassment under #MeToo campaign has portrayed the ineffectiveness of the existing laws against sexual harassment and if so, the details thereof and the action taken or proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI)

- (a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  LOK  SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.77  FOR 14.12.2018  ASKED  BY  SHRI  GAJANAN  KIRTIKAR  AND  SHRI  MUTHAMSETTI  SRINIVASA  RAO (AVANTHI) REGARDING #METOO CAMPAIGN

- (a) to (c): The Government of India vide its order dated 24 th  October, 2018 has constituted Group of Minister (GoM) to examine and give recommendations for strengthening the legal and institutional frameworks to deal with and prevent Sexual Harassment at Workplace. The composition of Group of Minister is as under:
- i) Shri Rajnath Singh, Hon'ble Home Minister,
- ii) Shri Nitin Gadkari, Hon'ble Minister, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation and Ministry of Shipping,
- iii) Shri Nirmala Sitharaman, Hon'ble Minister, Ministry of Defence,
- iv) Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi, Hon'ble Minister, Ministry of Women and Child Development
- (d) & (e): The existing law to deal with sexual harassment at work place is the Protection of Women from  Sexual  Harassment  at  Workplace  (Prevention,  Prohibition  and  Redressal)  Act,  2013  which aims  to  provide  safe  and  secure  work  environment  to  women.  The  Act  covers  all  women, irrespective of their age or employment status and provides protection against sexual harassment at all  workplaces.  In  addition  existing  provisions  of  Indian  Penal  Code  (IPC)  are  also  applicable  to various offences of sexual harassment.

The  Ministry  has  developed  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.

Further,  all  Ministries/Departments  of  Government  of  India  and  States/UTs  have  been requested  to  organize  workshops  and  awareness  programmes  in  their  Departments/Offices  for sensitizing  the  employees  about  the  provision  of  this  Act.  Besides,  all  States/UTs  Governments have  also  been  requested  to  advise  the  Secretary  Industries/Commerce  to  organize  similar workshops and awareness programmes each and every industry, business house, private sector entity of the States/UTs.

Ministry  of  Women  and  Child  Development  issues  advisories  from  time  to  time  to  all States/UTs  Government,  Ministries/Departments  in  Government  of  India  and  leading  business organisations 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) to ensure effective implementation of the Act.

Apart from the above, in order to create wide spread awareness about the Act across the country,  both  in  organized  and  unorganized  sectors,  Ministry  of  Women  and  Child  Development has  identified  a  pool  of  223  Resource  Institutions  to  provide  capacity  building  programmes  i.e. training, workshops, etc., on the issue of sexual harassment at workplace.

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