Sexual harassment: Govt tells biz chambers to submit report

Taking strong exception to most of the private companies in the country not having internal committees to address sexual harassment cases, the Centre has asked leading business chambers to submit monthly compliance report and said strict action will be taken against violators.
Union Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi today said her Ministry has asked the chambers to facilitate providing details like number of woman employees working in the companies to it.
She said the ministry will also write to chief ministers of the states, asking them about the status report on setting up of 'Internal Complaint Committees' to address cases of sexual harassment in their respective states.

"We have written letters to all the chambers of commerce and industries including ASSOCHAM, FICCI, CII and PHD Chamber of Commerce to give compliance to government directive every month. It is something we are taking very seriously," Gandhi said.
The companies will have to provide the list of woman staff joining every month.
"We have asked them to inform us about every single member of their company. If they do not reply beyond a point, strict action will be taken against them," she said.

Replying to a debate in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, Gandhi had said that the government has not been very successful in implementing the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act that was passed in 2013 and most of the private offices still do not have an 'Internal Complaint Committee'.

Gandhi said that the implementation of the Act will be strictly taken with the state governments as well.
"We had asked the state Secretaries about the actions taken by state governments seven months ago. But we did not receive any reply. So we will now write letters to each of the chief ministers," she said.
Speaking on the growing problem of child abuse in orphanages and juvenile homes, Gandhi suggested having an all-women staff.
"Sometimes the kind of staff we have in places like orphanages, is not right. If we could make it 'all-women' staff in places likes orphanages, I think that would be better," she said.