Bhubaneswar: State govt has directed all departments, district administrations and urban local bodies to prominently display boards listing the dos and don’ts under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. “This order needs to be considered as urgent and is part of the state’s ongoing commitment to create a safe, inclusive and respectful work environment for women,” read the letter issued by additional secretary of women and child development department, Jyotishankar Mohapatra, on Saturday.Mohapatra, while urging immediate compliance from all departments and institutes, further said, “It was observed that in many organisations the implementation of the POSH Act 2013 is not adequate. An important step in this direction is creating awareness among all personnel in workplaces and among students. It is imperative that sensitivity and knowledge about this Act is generated not only among girls and women but also among boys and men.“The draft IEC (information, education and communication) board enclosed with the letter mentioned acceptable and unacceptable behaviours in professional settings. It included key reminders such as respecting personal boundaries, speaking up against harassment and filing complaints through proper channels, including the internal complaints committee (ICC) or the central ‘She-box’ portal (shebox.wcd.gov.in).Offensive behaviour such as unwelcome physical contact, sexually suggestive jokes or messages, showing pornography and threatening job-related retaliation for denial of sexual favours are strictly prohibited.The govt also stressed that all ICCs across establishments must be registered on the ‘She-box’ portal. Authorities facing technical difficulties have been advised to contact a nodal officer of the department.The letter was issued to all additional chief secretaries, principal secretaries, commissioner-cum-secretaries, district magistrates and collectors, municipal commissioners and revenue development commissioners.
