**Executive Summary**
The National Commission for Women (NCW) launched a two-day National Awareness Programme on the POSH Act on July 17, 2026, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The event, inaugurated by Union Minister Smt. Annpurna Devi, focused on strengthening workplace safety to increase women’s workforce participation. A key highlight was the release of a new practical guide for Internal and Local Committees to ensure fair and time-bound inquiry procedures.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Program Objectives and Vision**
* Strengthen the implementation and awareness of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (POSH) Act, 2013.
* Promote workplace safety as a fundamental requirement for inclusive national development and "Women-led Development."
* Foster a workplace culture rooted in dignity, sensitivity, and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.
* **New Procedural Resources**
* Released the "Booklet on Inquiry Procedures for Internal Committees (ICs) and Local Committees (LCs)."
* The booklet serves as a practical guide for conducting inquiries that are fair, transparent, and compliant with statutory timelines.
* **Digital and Institutional Mechanisms**
* The SHe-Box portal was highlighted as a critical digital platform for promoting transparency and facilitating the time-bound resolution of grievances.
* Emphasis on the Ministry of Women and Child Development’s initiatives to help organizations understand legal responsibilities and establish effective redressal mechanisms.
* **Inquiry Standards**
* Inquiries must adhere to the principles of natural justice and protect the privacy of involved parties.
* Members of ICs and LCs are urged to conduct proceedings with fairness, empathy, and confidentiality.
**Impact Analysis**
**Employers and Institutional Leadership**
* **Impact:** They are held to a higher standard of accountability regarding the safety and dignity of their employees.
* **Action Required:** Must foster a zero-tolerance workplace culture and ensure institutional mechanisms for prevention and redressal are effective.
**Internal and Local Committees (ICs/LCs)**
* **Impact:** These bodies now have updated, specific guidance on how to handle complaints and conduct inquiries.
* **Action Required:** Must use the newly released booklet to conduct inquiries within statutory timelines while maintaining empathy and confidentiality.
**Women in the Workforce**
* **Impact:** Benefit from a more robust institutional ecosystem and clearer pathways for seeking justice.
* **Action Required:** Can utilize the SHe-Box portal for transparent and timely grievance redressal.
**Government Officials and Legal Experts**
* **Impact:** Involved in the ongoing refinement of institutional responses to evolving workplace challenges.
* **Action Required:** Continue to collaborate on strengthening the implementation of the POSH Act through technical sessions and awareness initiatives.
Key Entities Referenced
The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013: The primary legislative framework, also known as the POSH Act, governing workplace safety and the redressal of sexual harassment for women in India.
National Commission for Women (NCW): The statutory body responsible for organizing the national awareness programme and developing the inquiry procedure guidelines for the POSH Act.
SHe-Box portal: A digital platform developed to promote transparency and facilitate time-bound resolution of sexual harassment complaints.
Internal and Local Committees (ICs and LCs): Statutory bodies mandated by the POSH Act to conduct inquiries and resolve complaints of sexual harassment at the institutional and local levels.
Ministry of Women and Child Development: The primary ministry responsible for implementing initiatives and overseeing the institutional mechanisms for workplace safety and women's participation in the workforce.
Ministry of Women and Child Development
Two day National Awareness Programme on
POSH Act begins at Vigyan Bhawan
Strengthening workplace safety is fundamental to increasing
women's participation in the workforce and achieving
inclusive national development: Smt. Annpurna Devi
Booklet on Inquiry Procedures for Internal and Local
Committees released
प्रव तथ: 17 JUL 2026 1:32PM by PIB Delhi
The two day National Commission for Women's (NCW) National Awareness Programme on The Sexual
Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 began today at
Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smt. Annpurna Devi,
was the Chief Guest on the occasion.Organised by the National Commission for Women, the programme
brought together senior government officials, legal experts, representatives of Internal and Local
Committees, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to strengthen awareness and
implementation of the POSH Act.Addressing the gathering, Smt. Annpurna Devi said that ensuring safe, dignified and inclusive workplaces
is essential for realising the vision of Women-led Development. She emphasised that every woman has the
right to work with dignity and without fear, and that creating a safe work environment is a shared
responsibility of governments, employers and institutions. She noted that strengthening workplace safety
is fundamental to increasing women's participation in the workforce and achieving inclusive national
development.
The Minister highlighted several initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of Women and Child Development
to strengthen implementation of the POSH Act.She said these initiatives are helping organisations better
understand their legal responsibilities and establish effective institutional mechanisms for prevention and
redressal of workplace sexual harassment.She highlighted that the evolving nature of workplaces has introduced new challenges requiring
continuous strengthening of institutional responses. She stressed the importance of fair inquiry procedures,
protection of privacy and adherence to the principles of natural justice while ensuring timely disposal of
complaints.
The Minister also underlined the growing role of the SHe-Box portal in promoting transparency and
timely grievance redressal. She noted that the Portal has emerged as an important digital platform for
facilitating time-bound resolution of complaints, reflecting the Government's commitment to creating a
robust institutional ecosystem for women's safety.
Calling upon employers and institutional leadership to demonstrate greater accountability, the Minister
emphasised that every organisation must foster a workplace culture based on dignity, sensitivity and zero
tolerance towards sexual harassment. She urged members of Internal and Local Committees to conduct
inquiries with fairness, confidentiality and empathy while adhering to the statutory timelines prescribed
under the Act.
On the occasion, the Union Minister released the Booklet on Inquiry Procedures for Internal Committees
(ICs) and Local Committees (LCs) under POSH Act prepared by the National Commission for Women.
The booklet aims to serve as a practical guide for conducting fair, transparent and time-bound inquiries
under the POSH Act. The Minister appreciated NCW's efforts in strengthening institutional mechanisms
for implementation of the Act and promoting greater awareness among stakeholders.
Earlier, the programme commenced with a welcome address by Shri Sudeep Jain,Member Secretary,
NCW, followed by the inaugural address of Smt. Vijaya Rahatkar, Chairperson, National Commission for
Women. The event also featured technical sessions covering key provisions of the POSH Act including
rights of complainants and respondents as well as on handling complaints and inquiry procedures for
Internal and Local Committees.
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