Lok Sabha Question No. 795 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-05
Subject: Sexual Harrassment of Women at Workplace
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Rajeshbhai Naranbhai Chudasama, Sumalatha Ambareesh, D.K. Suresh, Virendra  Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION NO.795 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2021

## SEXUAL HARRASSMENT OF WOMEN AT WORKPLACE

795.    SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA: SHRIMATI SUMALATHA AMBAREESH: SHRI D.K.SURESH: DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  cognizance  of  recent  allegations  of  sexual harassment  complaints  filed  by  many  women  from  various  industries  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  proposed  to  set  up  a  committee  to  investigate  such complaints;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government plans to set up a special court for speedy disposal of sexual harassment allegations and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) whether the Government has put an effective mechanism in place to create awareness among  women  about  harassment/  exploitation  in  work  places  and  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a)  to  (c)  :   The  Government  of  India  enacted  'The  Sexual  Harassment  of  Women  at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013' (SH Act) with the aim to provide safe and secure work environment to women working in organised or unorganised sector. The Act  casts  an  obligation  to  constitute  Internal  Committee  (IC)/  Local  Committees  (LCs)  for receiving complaints of sexual harassment at workplace.

(d) & (e) :  The Ministry of Women and Child Development has developed a handbook and a training module for effective implementation/ awareness of the SH Act. In addition,   Government  issues  advisories  from  time  to  time  to  all  State  Governments/  UT Administrations, Ministries/ Departments of Government of India and business associations/ Chambers  to  ensure  effective  implementation  of  the  Act.  Further,  an  online  complaint management system titled the Sexual Harassment electronic-Box (SHeBox, www.shebox.nic.in)  has  been  put  in  place  for  registering  complaints  related  to  sexual harassment of women at workplace. The Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India has also issued advisories to all the Central Ministries/ Departments to complete the inquiry in a time bound manner and to include the information related to number of cases filed/ disposed under the SH Act in their annual report.

Apart from above, on 31 st July 2018, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs has amended the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014 for mandatory  inclusion of a statement in the Report of the Board of Directors about compliance with the provisions relating to the constitution of IC under the SH Act .

A  scheme  for  setting  up  of  1023  Fast  Track  Special  Courts  (FTSCs)  across  the country to  help  adjudicate    cases  of  Rape,  and  offences  pending  for  trial  under  POCSO Act has also been appraised for assisting States/ UTs.

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