February 11, 2014
New-look panel to deal with cases of harassment at workplace
The social evil of offences against women is being addressed with earnestness and has been given the highest priority by the Trinamool Government. The West Bengal Government has been taking strict action whenever any crime against women is reported, with immediate arrests and fast-track investigations. To continue with its stand, the state government has now decided to reconstitute the internal complaint committee (ICC) to deal with allegations of such cases.
Under the Sexual Harrassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal Act) 2013, an internal complaint committee should be formed to look after such complaints. The committee is now being formed by the State Government to protect its women employees.
A meeting will be held with the Chief Secretary on 14 February at Rotunda in Writers` Building to discuss the issue of reconstituting the ICC in the state. In most of the states, this committee has been lying defunct as the members have either retired from service or got transferred elsewhere.
The past government did nothing for the women employees of the State Secretariat and many of them are not even aware of such committees in their department.
