AICTE issues steps to maintain safe working environment for female employees in institutes

NEW DELHI: The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has asked technical universities and approved institutions to take certain actions to maintain a safe working environment for female employees at the workplace.

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Referring to the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 which gives legal right to female employees, both regular and contractual to voice against any type of sexual harassment at the workplace, the Council said, “All employers are expected to honour the Act and maintain a safe working environment for female employees, while discharging their duties, so that, they may carry out their duty with dignity.”

AICTE requested the universities and institutes to take the following actions in order to sensitize the issue related to maintenance of safe working environment as per "Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013:

• Constitute an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) and a Special cell in the institutions under administrative control to deal with the issue of gender based violence and to conduct gender sensitization programmes.
• To display banners or 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 (lCC) at Notice Boards in the Institutions.
• To upload the Act, Constitution of the Committee; and details of the Members of the lCC such as name, phone number, address etc., on the institute's portal at a prominent place.
• To conduct training programmes to sensitize the employees of the Institutions on the issues related to maintenance of a safe working environment.

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“As you are aware that Government of India is committed 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,” said AICTE and asked the institutions to intimate the actions taken in the matter.