Univs sensitise students, faculty, staff on POSH Act
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Bhubaneswar: In the wake of a college student's self-immolation in Balasore over alleged sexual harassment by her head of department, state govt has urged universities and colleges to intensify awareness about the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, or POSH Act and measures to lodge complaints.
Universities have started holding meetings, workshops and seminars to sensitise students, staff and other stakeholders to create safe campuses for women. While some of them have already conducted sensitisation programmes, others plan to carry out such activities.
Utkal University on Friday conducted a seminar-cum-workshop on the POSH Act to raise awareness about workplace rights while promoting a safer, gender-sensitive environment within the academic space.
Jointly hosted by the internal complaints committee (ICC) and the Post Graduate Council, experts explained the institutional framework and responsibilities of the ICC in handling harassment cases. They emphasised the importance of timely redressal and institutional support for complainants.
Sambalpur University conducted a workshop on the Act this week, where experts highlighted different forms of harassment, including visual, verbal and non-verbal, and spoke on inappropriate behaviour such as unwanted messages and comments on appearance.
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"We are planning to organise another workshop in Aug. Besides, we have strengthened the CCTV surveillance system, ensured proper lighting on the campus and a robust grievance redressal mechanism," said vice-chancellor Bidhu Bhusan Mishra.
On July 22, a gender sensitisation workshop was organised by the ICC of Fakir Mohan University, Balasore, to raise awareness and understanding about gender discrimination and create a more sensitive and inclusive environment.
"There is a dire need to eradicate all forms of gender bias and foster a culture of mutual respect on the campus," said VC Santosh Kumar Tripathy.
Berhampur University also conducted an awareness meeting on the POSH Act on July 19. The university has decided to hold a sensitisation meeting on the Act every quarter, involving students and teachers. It has installed complaint boxes in different departments, hostels and other places and urged students to lodge their grievances.
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