Fresh guidelines on Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 issued by DoPT

29.12.2016

Grant of Dearness Relief to Pensioners who are in receipt of provisional pension-Revised rate effective from 1.7.2016 on implementation of decision taken on recommendation of 7th Central Pay Commission.

Fresh guidelines on Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 issued by DoPT

Press Information Bureau 
Government of India
Ministry of Women and Child Development

28-December-2016 14:43 IST

Fresh guidelines on Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 issued by DoPT 

WCD Ministry will hold consultations on a regular basis on issues pertaining to the Act: Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi

The Minister for Women and Child Development, Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi, had held a review meeting on implementation of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 on 26.10.2016. During the meeting, some cases of sexual harassment pending with certain ministries/ departments were also examined. On the basis of the discussions, it was decided that DoPT will issue fresh instructions so that some of the issues can be suitably addressed.

On the basis of the decisions taken, DoPT has issued fresh guidelines regarding Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace vide their Office Memorandum dated 22.12.2016. According to the O.M., following have to be observed by the ministries/departments and Internal Complaints Committees:

(i)         Brief details of the implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act including the number of cases received and disposed shall form a part of the Annual Report of all ministries/ departments and authorities there under.

(ii)        The enquiry of cases must be completed within 30 days and under any circumstances within 90 days from the date of the complaint.

(iii)       The ministries/ departments etc. have to keep a watch on the complainant so as to ensure that she is not victimized in any manner because of her having filed the complaint. The aggrieved woman has been given further option to send representation to the Secretary or head of the organization in case she feels that she is being victimized because of her complaint. The concerned authority will be required to dispose of this complaint within 15 days.

(iv)       All ministries/ departments etc. are now required to submit a monthly progress report to the Ministry of Women and Child Development so that the progress can be monitored.

Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi, while appreciating DoPT for having quickly issued the guidelines, stated that the WCD Ministry shall continue to work on issues related to sexual harassment of women at workplace and she will be holding further consultations to see if there are any other areas which need to be looked into. The WCD Ministry will be coming out with a comprehensive plan to train the heads of Internal Complaint Committee under the Central Government Ministries/ Departments, the Minister added.

Postal Dept gives wings to priority mail

Tribune News Service | Amritsar, December 25 

In a historic development, the Punjab circle of the Postal Department connected the priority mail and parcel service, including Speed Post and Express Parcel, with flights taking off from Guru Ramdassjee International Airport in the holy city.

Parcels in local post offices and meant for delivery in metros and other cities across the country, including Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai, will now be sent through flights to their destinations. 

PM Swain, Chief Postmaster General, Punjab and Chandigarh, launched the air linkage of priority mail to all destinations at the head post office today. 

The facility will provide faster and reliable delivery of Speed Post and Express Parcel, booked from Amritsar and other important cities in Punjab circle.

Speaking on the occasion, Swain said priority articles booked till previous evening in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Phagwara, Batala, SBS Nagar and Hoshiarpur, which were shipped during night through Departmental Mail Motor Service to Amritsar hub, were handed over to airlines in the morning for delivery at far off destinations. 

He said it would give impetus to business, trade, commerce and industrial activities in cities, including Amritsar, Jalandhar, Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur, besides helping in economic growth of the region. Garments, sports and other goods, which are manufactured in Punjab, will reach more customers with the launch of priority Speed Post and Express Parcel to cities like Chennai, Bangalore and Mumbai. 

Swain flagged off the first air consignment from Amritsar Head Post Office today. 

He said parcels would be sent through different airlines depending on their efficient connectivity. 

He further added that first historic air linkage of Speed Post letters and parcels, booked in Ludhiana, Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Patiala and Amritsar for Kolkata and other major destinations in North East India, including Guwahati, Agartala and Silchar, was established from Chandigarh International Airport, Mohali, last week.