Delhi govt to form 5-member panel to look into sexual harassment complaints at workplaces

The decision was taken after the minister chaired a review meeting on implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.

Delhi Women and Child Development Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam on Sunday directed to form a five-member committee to look into complaints of sexual harassment at workplaces in the national capital. Such a committee will include members from the government, NGOs and civil society, a statement from the Delhi government said. The decision was taken after the minister chaired a review meeting on implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.

The meeting was attended by senior officers of the Department of Women and Child Development. (File photo)

The meeting was attended by senior officers of the Department of Women and Child Development. “Gautam directed the Department of Women and Child Development to constitute a five-member committee to overview and monitor the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 and the composition may include some representatives from government, Non Government Organisation (NGO) sector and civil society,” the statement said.

“The minister also instructed that a meeting should be convened through video conferencing with government department heads, in the first phase, in order to have an interface regarding implementation of the Act in their respective departments,” it said.

The department was also directed to ensure the issuance of advertisements, in the form of display and text notices, for creating awareness among citizens along with all government and private sector entities on the provisions, facilitations and penalty clauses of the Act.

All district magistrates have also been instructed for constitution of local committee as statutory requirement under the Act, the statement added.