Government Highlights Commitment to Women's Safety at the Workplace

A recent national conference in New Delhi focused on improving women's safety at workplaces across the country. The event brought together government officials, representatives from private organizations, and experts to discuss ways to make workplaces safer, fairer, and more respectful for women. The conference was addressed by Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Annpurna Devi. She emphasized that women's safety at work is a reflection of the country's commitment to justice and equality. She also highlighted the importance of ensuring that women can work with dignity and without fear of harassment. One of the key parts of the conference was discussing the progress made so far. The Minister noted that more than 1.48 lakh institutions are registered on the SHe-Box portal. Out of these, over 60,000 internal committees are actively working to address complaints related to women’s safety. These committees play an important role in protecting women at their workplaces by handling complaints and advising organizations on appropriate action. The conference also pointed out that female participation in the labor force has increased significantly in recent years. In the last six years, women's participation has grown from 23% to 42%. This rise indicates more women are working across various sectors, which makes safety measures even more important. During the event, several new initiatives were launched. The SHe-Box logo was unveiled, and a PoSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) Voluntary Compliance Checklist was introduced. These tools are designed to help organizations voluntarily follow safety standards and promote a respectful workplace environment. Additionally, the SHe-Box portal was integrated with the Mission Shakti App and the Karmayogi Bharat PoSH training module. These steps aim to make reporting harassment easier, more secure, and accessible to everyone. A national workplace safety pledge was also taken during the conference. This pledge reminds organizations and individuals of their responsibility to create safe workplaces. It underlines the importance of respecting women and protecting their rights. The event was attended by about 1,500 participants from over 160 organizations from both government and private sectors. More than 40,000 people watched the conference live through a webcast, ensuring wider participation and awareness. Apart from the main program, the conference featured a panel discussion on how to strengthen compliance with safety rules. The discussion focused on how to improve procedures and make sure organizations follow the laws to prevent harassment and promote safety. A short film titled “Safe workplaces as drivers of Viksit Bharat through equality and economic participation of women” was also shown. The film aimed to inspire organizations to take active steps towards better safety and equality. The importance of the SHe-Box portal was highlighted as well. This secure, multilingual, single-window platform allows women to file complaints confidentially. The portal automatically forwards complaints to the relevant committee and provides real-time tracking. It also functions as a training and compliance resource for organizations. The conference underscored the broader goal of strengthening the implementation of the POSH Act, 2013. This law aims to prevent sexual harassment at workplaces and protect women’s rights. The Minister of State, Savitri Thakur, stressed that safety at work is a basic right for women. She also talked about wider efforts to empower women, making them a vital part of the economy through various programs and policies. Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi also spoke at the event. He said that ensuring women's safety aligns with India’s constitutional commitments to equality and justice. The conference emphasized the need for ongoing efforts to improve compliance measures. The goal is to create workplaces that are not only safe but also inclusive and respectful for everyone. The government aims to keep pushing forward with these initiatives, making workplaces safer for women everywhere. The event marked an important step in reaffirming the country’s dedication to protecting women and promoting equality at work.