In wake of sexual harassment complaints, Odisha pushes for safer campus environments

Bhubaneswar, Sept 24: In response to recent reports of sexual harassment at various universities, the Odisha government has directed the heads of all higher educational institutions (HEIs) to create a safe and secure environment for students and staff.

A letter from the Higher Education Department addressed to registrars and principals of all public, private, and deemed universities, as well as government and non-government degree colleges and teacher education institutions, emphasized the need to establish Internal Complaint Committees (ICCs) and submit compliance reports by September 30.

Referring to the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, the letter stated, “To fulfill the statutory obligations under this Act, every institution must form an internal complaint committee in accordance with Section 4. This committee is essential for addressing grievances related to sexual harassment and promoting a respectful workplace. You are therefore requested to establish the Internal Complaint Committee at the HEI level and report compliance to this department by September 30, 2024.”

The Act seeks to prevent and address incidents of sexual harassment against women in the workplace, providing a mechanism for handling complaints. It mandates that all workplaces, including educational institutions, set up an ICC to manage and resolve these complaints. Each committee must include a female presiding officer who holds a senior position, at least two employees, and one member from a women-focused NGO or association.

However, many universities and colleges in the state either lack ICCs or have committees that are not operational.