Women urged to raise harassment cases
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 07 2025: Sustaining sensitisation campaign on 'Sexual harassment of women at workplace' at different government departments under the aegis of Manipur State Commission for Women (MSCW), a programme on the said theme was conducted at Manipur State Transport office, near Kalimai Mandir on Wednesday.

The sensitisation programme, organised by the State Transport Department, was attended by director transport) Nivedita Lairenlakpam, MSCW secretary cum additional secretary (IPR) W Phajatombi, MSCW chairperson Thumlip Tiningpham Monsang, and members Lourembam Dayabati and Sofia Mayon as the presidium members.

Regarding the programme, Thumlip Monsang said the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 was enacted to protect women from sexual harassment at workplace, explaining that it mandates employers to establish Internal Complaints Committees (ICC) and provides a mech anism for filing and investigating complaints of sexual harassment.

"Sexual harassment is not merely harassment of women by men at workplace alone but also covers harassment at homes," she said and appealed to women not to fret from raising their cases and take advantage of the Act.

Chairperson Thumlip stated that it is compulsory for both men and women to understand each other in sorting out any problem they faced.

"It is quite fortunate that this very department is not facing any issues related with sexual harassment at workplace, and if it happens to have such issues, then the complaint should be brought to the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), she stressed.

Understanding and addressing sexual harassment in the workplace is crucial for creating a safe environment for women and girls.

To ensure equality and empowerment for all women proper awareness and understanding women's rights have become important in all workplace, she added.

The sensitisation programme focused on sharing information on the role of women in workplace, whom to approach when different forms of sexual harassment take place and procedures to handle complaint, etc.

In her speech, Nivedita Lairenlakpam stressed the need for proper understanding of ways to protect women from sexual violence and the legislation for such violence.

She also Called for every woman to understand women-empowering laws.

The director also emphasised on the importance of getting acquainted with laws enacted to uphold dignity of women and spread the same information to all including one's own family members.

During the Technical Session advocate Thiyam Rajkishore Singh highlighted the provisions of The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 .

Observing that sexual harassment cases may happen to all the gender, he pointed out that the 2013 Act has provisions to ensure that the perpetrator face stringent punishment based on complainant's facts.

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