DIMAPUR: Administrative Training Institute (ATI) in collaboration with Department of Personnel & Administrative Reforms conducted a two days’ Workshop on “Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace”, on July 7 and 8, attended by officials from District Administrations and various government departments.
A press release by ATI stated that participants identified fear of stigmatization and retribution as some of the challenges in reporting cases of inappropriate behaviours in the workplace, and also highlighted that lack of awareness about what constitutes sexual harassment has contributed to normalization of inappropriate verbal remarks in the form of humours with sexual inundations. The participants further emphasized the need to create safe workplace through increased awareness of the PoSH Act, strengthening role of Internal Complaints Committee and Local Committee and promoting culture of respect and accountability. The important role of churches and civil societies in fostering awareness and encouraging respectful workplace behaviour was also highlighted.
The important role of families in inculcating moral and ethical values at young age was also discussed.
The release added that during an interactive session with Additional Chief Secretary & Director General ATI, V Shashank Shekhar, participants presented views on their experiences and perspectives on workplace safety/PoSH in their respective workplaces and also in the whole social context.
