Delhi govt official urges focus on gender-sensitive workplaces beyond legal compliance

New Delhi, Jul 11 (PTI) A senior Delhi government official on Friday called for a shift in workplace culture that goes beyond ticking boxes for legal compliance and instead actively supports women employees through meaningful reforms and inclusive practices.

At the third National POSH Conclave and Excellence Awards 2025 by the Centre of Skill Development and Training, Dr Rashmi Singh, Secretary of the Department of Women and Child Development, stated that workplace safety and dignity for women should not be limited to the constitution of Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs), as mandated by the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.

She stressed the need to implement all three pillars of the Act, prevention, prohibition, and redressal, with equal seriousness.

Singh further highlighted the challenges faced by women in the workforce, particularly the lack of enabling infrastructure and the emotional burden of unsafe environments.

“The soft power of women remains untapped because many workplaces are simply not conducive. We owe every woman and girl the chance to pursue a dignified career in a safe environment,” she added.

Dr Singh outlined efforts by the Delhi government to strengthen POSH mechanisms, including the formation of ICCs across all departments, the appointment of district magistrates to head local committees for the informal sector, and the availability of both digital and physical platforms, such as complaint boxes for grievance redressal.

She also pointed to the importance of supportive measures like crèche facilities, safe transportation, flexible working hours, and well-equipped restrooms to encourage women’s participation in the workforce.

Senior advocate and former additional solicitor general of India, Pinky Anand, also spoke at the event and reflected on the evolution of workplace harassment laws in India, from the Vishakha Judgment to the current POSH Act.

She underscored the importance of timely and confidential complaint resolution and urged organisations to appoint impartial and independent members to their ICCs.

“Law doesn’t just provide redress— it reflects what a society stands for,” she said. PTI UZM UZM MPL MPL