- UP Government strengthens SHe-Box portal to prevent harassment of women in the workplace
- Central Government collaboration aims to improve the efficacy of the platform
- SHe-Box offers a digital channel for quick and safe resolution of complaints
The Uttar Pradesh government is taking a bold step to combat workplace harassment by expanding the reach and functionality of the SHe-Box portal, a digital platform that allows women to file complaints quickly, securely, and confidentially. The goal of this program, which is being implemented in collaboration with the Central Government, is to encourage a respectful and safe workplace for women in all state sectors.
Internal complaints committees (ICCs) must be established by all state government and private institutions, per Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's directive. 84 departments have so far complied by uploading pertinent committee information to the SHe-Box portal. The government has made certain that this framework works in each of Uttar Pradesh's 75 districts.
Any company with ten or more workers is required by law to establish an ICC with four to five members, at least half of whom must be women, and a female chairperson. Organizations in the public and private sectors can use the system. With assistance from NGOs and supervision from the women's welfare department, these committees are in charge of promptly resolving complaints.
Any woman, whether working for the government or the private sector, can use the SHe-Box portal as a one-stop online platform to report instances of sexual harassment in the workplace, such as unwanted physical advances, inappropriate gestures, offensive remarks, or coercion in exchange for benefits. After being filed, the complaint is forwarded to the relevant local or internal committee, which has ninety days to address it. In addition to guaranteeing confidentiality, the portal gives the complainant a tracking ID so they can keep tabs on the progress of their case.
While NGOs make sure women in unorganized sectors are also protected, district probation officers are in charge of the campaign. Every institutional ICC is required by the women's welfare department to promptly register and address complaints; failure to do so may result in legal action.
The portal is particularly helpful for women in small towns and rural areas, giving them a safe way to report misconduct, according to Anu Singh, Deputy Director and Nodal Officer of the Women and Child Development Department. The program encourages women to speak up and pursue justice by building on past initiatives for women's empowerment like Mission Shakti.
