Karauli, Rajasthan – As part of the Women Workers Harassment-Free Workplace Awareness Campaign, run by the District Administration and ActionAid Association India, and under the guidance of ActionAid Regional Manager Sion Kingori, a Women’s Chaupal was organized in Mohanpura, Karauli, where women were informed about the provisions of the POSH Act and their rights.
ActionAid District Coordinator Dinesh Kumar Bairwa stated that the aim was to raise awareness among women workers about the POSH Act (Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013) and to encourage them to report harassment to the local complaints committee, the nearest police station, the National and State Commission for Women’s websites, and the She-Box portal, and to speak out against harassment.
The POSH Act is a law designed to protect women from sexual harassment at the workplace. This Act was passed in 2013 and aims to provide a safe working environment where women can work without fear of harassment.
The POSH Act clearly defines sexual harassment, including unwanted physical contact, demands for sexual favors, exposure to pornography, and any unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature. This Act protects women from sexual harassment at the workplace, allowing them to work in a safe and dignified environment.
He explained that women working in brick kilns, building construction, road construction, mining, sanitation, and domestic work are more likely to face workplace harassment. The Act provides procedures for filing complaints and redressal if contractors, employers, or other individuals harass women workers at the workplace. Women were encouraged to complain to internal and local complaints committees. They were also informed about their rights and related schemes.
Volunteer Jagdish Jat provided information about central and state government schemes, including those for the protection of women from domestic violence and dowry harassment. During the session, women shared their life experiences.
