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What is the POSH act, and how has it put the onus on employers to enable a harassment free workplace? Learn your law here!
Have you ever faced a sexually coloured remark at your workplace? A subtle sexual advance by your co-worker? Is your workplace gender sensitive? Does your organization have a policy against sexual harassment? Is there a forum to address related issues? Do you feel confident to discuss your issues without any implication on your reputation? Are you wondering what counts as sexual harassment, in the first place?
In the 1990s, a small news item was published in a regional newspaper in Rajasthan. It talked about a social worker called Bhanwari Devi filing an FIR against a gang of men who allegedly raped her for being instrumental in stopping child marriage. However, Bhanwari received little support and justice until the women’s rights group Vishakha stepped in. This resulted in the Supreme court of India laying down guidelines against sexual harassment in workplace that were famously called the Vishakha Guidelines. In 2013, many years after formulating the Vishaka guidelines, the Supreme court passed the Prevention of Sexual Harassment or the POSH act.
POSH act, 2013 is the prevention, protection and redressal of sexual harassment in the workplace. It defines what actually constitutes sexual harassment and the ways to prevent, protect and address the same. POSH act mandates any organization having more than 10 employees to constitute an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) that provides a channel for addressing sexual harassment at the workplace. It also elaborates on the actions to be taken, the confidentiality of the complaint, training and awareness. It also dictates the actions to be taken against any false accusation. It should also be noted that this Act is gender neutral and applies to both men and women.
As suggested earlier, POSH Act enforces any organization to formulate a policy for the prevention of sexual harassment and redressal of the same. It mandates an internal complaints committee to address the issues and resolve them. It also recommends conducting orientation programmes and seminars. This Act would help to create a fostering environment for working women and empower them to voice out against sexual harassment.
Watch this episode of The PS Show to listen to Sohini Mandal elaborate on the POSH Act, part 1 of the series on Prevention of Sexual harassment at the workplace.
Entrepreneurship and entertainment have been the key themes in her work life. In a career spanning over 18 years, she has launched a film magazine, hosted a film-based radio talk show and co-founded read more...
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He said that he needed sometime to himself. I waited for him as any other woman would have done, and I gave him his space, I didn't want to be the clingy one.
Trigger Warning: This deals with mental trauma and depression, and may be triggering for survivors.
I am someone who believes in honesty and trust, I trust people easily and I think most of the times this habit of mine turns into bane.
This is a story of how a matrimonial website service turned into a nightmare for me, already traumatized by the two relationships I’ve had. It’s a story for every woman who lives her life on the principles of honesty and trust.
And when she enters the bedroom, she sees her husband's towel lying on the bed, his underwear thrown about in their bathroom. She rolls her eyes, sighs and picks it up to put in the laundry bag.
Vasudha, age 28 – is an excellent dancer, writer, podcaster and a mandala artist. She is talented young woman, a go getter and wouldn’t bat an eyelid if she had to try anything new. She would go head on with it. Everyone knew Vasudha as this cheerful and pretty young lady.
Except when marriage changed everything she knew. Since she was always outdoors, whether for office or for travelling for her dance shows, Vasudha didn’t know how to cook well.
Going by her in-laws definition of cooking – she had to know how to cook any dishes they mentioned. Till then Vasudha didn’t know that learning to cook was similar to getting an educational qualification. As soon as she entered the household after her engagement, nobody was interested what she excelled at, everybody wanted to know – what dishes she knew how to cook.