Sexual harassment of women at work place deliberated
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 07 2022:
A one-day State level consultation programme on Women Helpline (181) and Sexual Harassment of Women At Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 was held at Hotel Imphal in North AOC today.
Dignitaries present at the consultation programme organised by the Department of Social Welfare include Social Welfare Minister Heikham Dingo as the chief guest; Ngangom Uttam, Director, Department of Social Welfare as the functional president and Salam Ulka, Chairperson, Manipur State Commission for Women as the guest of honour.
Speaking as the chief guest, Heikham Dingo underscored the need to spread the helpline number far and wide and bring a stop to the crimes committed against women.
He also urged the newly appointed supervisors at the Social Welfare Department to take up a big role in improving the Department.
Delivering the presidential speech, Ngangom Uttam shone a light on the lack of knowledge among a huge section of the population regarding the women helpline number (181), which exists to combat the atrocities faced by women.
Aside from this, people also lack awareness on the Sexual Harassment of Women At Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.He stated that the Act will be rendered meaningless if the section of population the Act seeks to help are unaware of it.
Thus, he highlighted the need to provide awareness to Social Welfare Department supervisors in this aspect so that they may disseminate this information to the public, especially women, at large.
The Social Welfare Director also spoke on the role of the Social Welfare Department in providing support and standing by the underprivileged sections of society.
Further, he emphasized on the need to be aware of other helpful toll free numbers, such as, childline 1098, elderline 14567 and emergency response support service 112.He also informed that efforts are underway to assign a single helpline number (112) for all issues and get rid of other toll free numbers, as remembering a lot of numbers can prove to be quite inconvenient.
Maintaining that the existence of many 'Acts' has not successfully prevented or stopped the occurrence of unfortunate cases, he made mention of the Protection of Women From Domestic Violence Act, 2005, stating that its existence for the last 17 years has not put a stop to crimes against women and children.
In order to stop these crimes, a collective effort from the public is necessary.
People who are aware of the helpline numbers and the Act must spread awareness about the same in their respective localities, he suggested.
The Director also spoke about the disadvantages of customary laws.
He concluded his informative speech by highlighting the need for women to gain more knowledge about the Acts and laws implemented for their betterment.