West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Ram Singh has directed all departments within the district to call a meeting for formation of Internal Complaint Committee (ICC) to look into the matters of sexual harassment of women at workplaces.
Singh said the list of the members should reach the Deputy Commissioner’s Office within two weeks time.
Speaking at a meeting on Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 held at DRDA Conference Hall, Tura today with all the heads of departments of the district the DC informed that according to the Act, redressal mechanism in the form of ICC should also be established and that the committee were mandated to be headed by a woman employee with not less than half of its members being women.
He highlighted the provisions of the guidelines Act and informed that these guidelines are meant for all workplaces, institutions or organisation which provides a basic understanding of sexual harassment at places of work. He informed that the Act had been enacted to ensure safe working spaces for women and to build an enabling work environment that respects women’s right to equality of status and opportunity.
Pointing out that sexual harassment is gross violation of women’s right to equality and dignity, the Deputy Commissioner said that all departments including private sectors in the district should ensure that the Act be implement and added that both male and female employees should understand the provisions of the Act.
Moreover, in view of the recent spike in Covid-19 positive cases in the district, the Deputy Commissioner had also directed all Heads of Departments to ensure that their staff are vaccinated and also to encourage and motivate other beneficiaries, neighbours, etc to vaccinate so as to safeguard, protect against the disease.
