Act to protect women remains only on paper

COIMBATORE: Even though more than six months have passed since the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act has become a law, it is yet to be implemented, as most establishments and working women themselves remain unclear about this provision. Admitting that the law is yet to take off, officials said that it is for the state government to organise awareness programmes relating to this Sexual Harassment Act."Information, Education and Communication (IEC) are essential factors and we have not even crossed the first step towards its implementation," an official source said.
A cross-section of women employees said that even though the Sexual Harassment Act is often on the news, they are unaware of the provisions relating to its implementation. "Not just employees, even employers are in the dark about this new law," said J Keerthana, a nursing assistant. It may be noted that as per the law, all offices employing 10 or more workers should provide redress mechanisms in the form of Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), a four-member committee led by a senior women employee.
Apart from this, Local Complaints Committee (LCC) should be constituted by the concerned district officer to receive complaints of sexual harassment from establishments where the ICC is not mandatory or if the complaint is against the employer itself.
Enquiries revealed that even senior officials in the district are unaware as to who the district officer is under this Act. With even the basics of the Act such is yet to be decided, the Sexual Harassment Act remains only in paper.