Are you being sexually harassed at work but lack a proper grievance-redressal system? Well fret not, SHe-Box, (sexual harassment electronic box) is back in the spotlight and is now open to women employees in private sectors as well. It was on Tuesday launched by Union minister Maneka Gandhi and will be hosted on the website of the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
A cell under the ministry will look into every complaint filed online and share it with the concerned organisation's internal complaints committee (ICC), which is a mandatory requirement under the law. Complainants will also be able to monitor the status of an inquiry by the ICC.
The ministry had earlier launched a web page for government employees, which has now been extended to women in the private sector, Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi told reporters. Under the Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act, 2013, it is compulsory for any organisation with 10 or more employees to set up an internal complaints committee for addressing complaints of sexual harassment.
The mechanisms, however, are often ignored or treated with extreme carelessness, forcing victims to lose faith in governance, the law and hope for justice. SHe-box seeks to ensure “effective implementation” of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.
Once a complaint is submitted to the ‘SHe-Box’, it will be directly sent to the internal complaints committee (ICC) of the ministry/department/PSU/autonomous body etc concerned, having jurisdiction to inquire into the matter.
Reach out: You can access the site through this link http://shebox.nic.in/