The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) on May 01, 2023, issued a circular regarding the maintenance of a safe working environment for female employees at the workplace to promote gender equality and women empowerment across every sector and prevent all forms of violence against women that negatively impact gender equality and human dignity.
The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013 gives a legal right to female employees, both regular and contractual to voice against any type of sexual harassment at the workplace.
The following actions are required to take in order to sensitize the issue related to the maintenance of a safe working environment:
• To constitute an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) and a Special cell in the institutions under your administrative control to deal with the issue of gender-based violence and to conduct gender sensitization programmes.
• To display banners/posters at conspicuous places in the buildings and campuses to create awareness amongst employees about what is sexual harassment and how to prevent it.
• To display names and contact details of the members of the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) on Notice Boards in the Institutions.
• To upload the (i) "Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013"; (ii) Constitution of the Committee; and (iii) details of the Members of the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) such as name, phone number, address etc., on institute's portal at a prominent place.
• To conduct training programmes to sensitize the employees of the Institutions on the issues related to the maintenance of a safe working environment.
[Circular No. AICTE/P&AP/Misc/2022/]
