SRINAGAR: A total of 2,826 government offices and 1,048 private establishments have been mapped under the POSH Act framework in Jammu and Kashmir, with three complaints of workplace sexual harassment received and resolved so far, officials said on Wednesday.
Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo chaired a high-level review meeting on the implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 across the Union Territory, stressing the need for safe and compliant working environments for women in both public and private sectors.
The meeting was attended by senior officers, including the Principal Secretary, Home Department; Commissioner Secretary, Social Welfare Department; Divisional Commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir; Commissioner Secretary, Law Department; Secretary, Rural Development Department; Secretary, Transport Department; Managing Director, Mission Shakti; and Joint Director, Information Department, among others.
During the review, the Chief Secretary directed strict implementation of POSH Act provisions and Supreme Court guidelines, calling for a comprehensive framework with clearly defined responsibilities at all administrative levels to ensure workplace safety for women.
He also called for intensified awareness campaigns on women’s rights and grievance redressal mechanisms, including Women Helpline-181 and the SHe-Box portal, across government, public, and private institutions.
Dulloo further emphasised the need for regular capacity-building programmes for Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs), District Nodal Officers, and other stakeholders, and directed the Law Department to strengthen training through Legal Services Authorities.
Mission Shakti was instructed to organise monthly ‘Mahila Jan Sunwai’ sessions in all districts under the supervision of District Magistrates, Senior Superintendents of Police, and District Legal Services Authorities to facilitate grievance redressal for women.
Commissioner Secretary, Social Welfare Department Sarmad Hafeez informed the meeting that Internal Complaints Committees have been constituted down to the Tehsil and Block levels, with 978 institutions employing women formally identified so far.
He said efforts are underway to ensure complete mapping of workplaces across districts in line with statutory requirements and Supreme Court directions, adding that all departments and establishments have been advised to prominently display helpline and complaint portal details.
Mission Director, Mission Vatsalya/Mission Shakti Rubina Kousar said the POSH compliance portal currently includes 2,826 government offices and 1,048 private establishments, with coverage expanding as additional workplaces are identified.
She also confirmed that three complaints of workplace sexual harassment have been received and disposed of under the provisions of the Act, while capacity-building initiatives and nodal officer appointments are ongoing across districts.
The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of the administration’s commitment to ensuring safe, dignified, and harassment-free workplaces for women across Jammu and Kashmir through strengthened enforcement, awareness, and institutional mechanisms.
