HYDERABAD: Ever since the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act came into effect in 2013, only 19 cases have been registered in Telangana.Highlighting the need for better awareness and its implementation, Telangana State Commission for Women, Hyderabad will hold state wide consultations with all stakeholders to strengthen the Act’s implementation in government departments. Of 31 districts in TS, only 24 districts have a Local Complaints Committee (LCC) set up, as mandated by the Act.
The law aims to provide a redressal mechanism for women across the country to register complaint against sexual harassment at workplace. “We have recorded only 19 cases of sexual harassment from the committee so far, 17 of them have been dealt with. Some districts have recorded zero cases. The low record could be due to lack of awareness about the Act or due to social stigmas attached to victim shamming,” said Viziendira Boyi, director, Women and child welfare department.
The director brought this to light at a consultation programme held between TS Commission for Women and National Commission for Women on Saturday. The programme was attended by 10 district collectors and various departmental heads. The officials discussed on how government departments need to take the lead in setting up Internal Complaints Committees across districts. “The women in the government and in the private sector already have a voice and access to the law, they only need to use the law. But there are women in the informal sector that needs redressal systems that protect them better,” said Swetha Mohanty collector, Wanaparthy.“The law has failed women and Vishakha guidelines implementation too have failed at government departments and private institutions,” said Tripurana Venkata Ratnam, chairperson, TS Commission for Women, Hyderabad.