The Ministry of Women and Child Development has recently unveiled a specialised portal, SHe-Box, to address the cases of sexual harassment of women in the workplace. This is a major step in the aftermath of the release of the Hema Committee Report which gives details about frequent sexual harassment in the Malayalam Film Industry.
Key highlights
- The SHe-Box portal will allow registration and monitoring of sexual harassment cases and the progress of the investigation.
- The portal will serve as a centralised repository of information for Internal Committees (ICs) and Local Committees (LCs).
- It will ensure the redressal of complaints with real-time monitoring by a designated nodal officer.
- The major aim of this initiative is to not only resolve sexual harassment cases quickly but also encourage women’s participation in the workforce.
Sexual harassment at the workplace
- The sexual harassment cases of women in the workplace have been rising in India over the last few years. It has emerged as a major hindrance in promoting women to come out of their homes to opt for jobs and contribute to the Indian economy.
- In FY 2022-23, 2,325 POSH cases were registered, which is 29% more than the previous year. The services sector emerged as the major contributor to women’s harassment cases.
- The rising number of reported cases also indicates that the awareness among women is enhancing and they are coming ahead to register their complaints.
Factors behind sexual harassment of women in the workplace
- Dominance of males: Almost every workplace in India is dominated by the strong presence of males and their dominant positions in the organisations. They hardly pay attention to issues faced by women.
- Lack of awareness among women employees: Usually, women employees lack awareness regarding laws and legal provisions protecting their rights. This situation makes them not only vulnerable but also prevents them from speaking against exploitation.
- Lack of proper implementation of laws: Many workplaces in India don’t have Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) as mandated by the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013. Moreover, their ineffectiveness is a concern.
- Fear of consequences: Women employees also live in fear of possible consequences or retaliation if they complain against anybody in authority. They often decide to maintain silence.
Overall, sexual exploitation of women in the workplace affects India’s attempts to increase women’s participation in the workforce and harness their talent to push economic progress. In this scenario, the launch of SHe-Box raises hopes to ensure women’s safety.