Union Minister Launches SHe-Box Portal to Make Workplaces Safer for Women
Speaking at a consultation meeting in Madurai on Saturday, advocate S. Selva Gomathi, who is also the joint director of the Society for Community Organization (SOCO) Trust, emphasized that despite the flaws in the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) process, having such a committee in workplaces is crucial to preventing sexual harassment of women.
During the event titled “One Day Consultation on the Role of the State in Ensuring the Right to Work with Dignity for Female Workers,” organized by SOCO Trust and the Justice Shivraj V. Patil Foundation, she noted that the presence of the committee could deter men from harassing women at work by creating a sense of accountability.
Union Minister Launches SHe-Box Portal to Make Workplaces Safer for Women
On Thursday, Union Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi launched a new centralized platform called the SHe-Box portal. This initiative is aimed at making workplaces safer for women by providing an efficient way to handle complaints of sexual harassment.
What is the SHe-Box Portal?
- SHe-Box stands for Sexual Harassment electronic Box.
- It is an online platform where women working in both the private and public sectors can file complaints about sexual harassment at their workplace.
- The portal is designed to be user-friendly, ensuring that women can easily report incidents of harassment without facing additional barriers.
How Does the SHe-Box Work?
- Filing Complaints: Women can log into the portal and file a complaint, providing details about the incident.
- Tracking: Once a complaint is filed, the complainant can track the progress of their case through the portal.
- Management: The system is linked to various government bodies and departments, which can directly access the complaints, ensuring a faster response and better management of cases.
Why is the SHe-Box Important?
- Centralized System: It centralizes the process of handling complaints, making it easier for the authorities to monitor and ensure timely action.
- Government Effort: The launch of the SHe-Box is part of the government’s broader efforts to create safer work environments for women and to promote gender equality in the workplace.
- Access for All: This platform is available to all women across India, regardless of where they work, which helps in addressing the issue on a national scale.
Impact on Workplace Safety
- Increased Accountability: By making it easier for women to report harassment, the SHe-Box portal holds employers and organizations more accountable for the safety of their employees.
- Deterrence: The existence of such a platform serves as a deterrent for potential harassers, knowing that there is a straightforward way for victims to report incidents.
- Empowerment: The portal empowers women by giving them a direct and secure channel to voice their concerns and seek justice.
Conclusion
The launch of the SHe-Box portal is a significant step forward in the fight against sexual harassment in the workplace. It reflects the government’s commitment to creating safer, more respectful work environments for women across India. With this tool, women now have an easier and more effective way to report harassment, which could lead to faster resolutions and greater protection for workers nationwide.
Who brought the idea of SHe-Box?
The idea of the SHe-Box (Sexual Harassment electronic Box) was brought up and developed by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) in India. The initiative was part of the government’s broader efforts to address sexual harassment in the workplace and to ensure a safer working environment for women across both the public and private sectors.
The concept aligns with the Ministry’s mission to promote the safety, protection, and empowerment of women. The SHe-Box was launched to provide a centralized, accessible platform for women to report instances of sexual harassment, making it easier for the authorities to track and address complaints effectively.
The SHe-Box is a continuation of the government’s efforts to implement and strengthen the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, which mandates the formation of Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) in workplaces. The SHe-Box was designed to complement these existing measures and provide an additional, centralized resource for women seeking redressal.