The Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD & GR) conducted an Orientation and Awareness Programme on the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act, 2013. The session was chaired by the Economic Adviser and Chairman of the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC). Advocate Janvi Satpal Babbar, External Member of the ICC, delivered a detailed presentation on the provisions of the POSH Act and the associated Rules.

The programme sought to equip employees with a deeper understanding of not only the legal requirements of the Act but also its larger purpose — fostering a workplace culture grounded in dignity, equality and respect.

Enacted following the Supreme Court’s landmark Vishaka judgment, the POSH Act provides a comprehensive legal framework to prevent, prohibit and redress sexual harassment at the workplace. It clearly defines the offence, lays out employer responsibilities and aims to ensure a safe, secure and dignified environment for women.

The Act mandates the establishment of Internal Complaints Committees in organisations with ten or more employees. It also stresses proactive efforts such as awareness, sensitisation and capacity-building, ensuring that workplace safety extends beyond compliance to creating a genuinely gender-sensitive and equitable environment for all.