• Sexual harassment is unwelcome sexual behaviour that’s offensive, humiliating or intimidating.
• It can be written, verbal or physical, and can happen in person or online.
• The recent case of allegations of sexual harassment that some of India’s sportswomen (wrestling) are said to have faced have shocked the India.
• This shows that any internal complaints committee does not function or, the wrestlers were not aware about it.
• In view of the issue, the Union Sports Minister constituted an ‘oversight committee’ headed by a lady Olympic medal holder to investigate the charges levelled against the president of the Wrestling Federation of India.

Challenges to creating safe working place for women

• Indirect women violence at workplace remains poorly addressed because it is embedded deep in India’s social and economic structures.
• With more men at the workplace, they feel empowered to take undue advantage of the historical fact that the society is still patriarchal and women are not only in a minority but also occupy a few of the higher positions.
• According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) annual report of 2020-21
• it shows that though the participation of women in the total labour force grew.
• i.e., Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) has gradually increased from 17.5% in 2017-18 to 25.1% in 2020-21.
• The Worker Population Ratio (WPR) from 16.5% in 2017-18 to 24.2% in 2020-21
• it is still much less when compared to men.

Suggestions for creating safe working place for women

To creating safe working place for women below measures can be used:

• Stringent legislations:
• There should be stricter enforcement of laws and regulations related to women’s safety in organizations.
• Every company and factory that employs women should implement a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual harassment.
• Even the laws that are implemented nationwide should be executed without any discrimination. 
• Greater awareness:
• Increased awareness among male employers and employees so that they are able to support their female co-workers instead of threatening them for sexual favours.
• Women should also be made conscious of their rights regarding sexual harassment at the workplace.
• HR should ensure that the employees in the company are well aware of their rights and duties.
• Self-defence training:
• Women should be imparted self-defence training so that they are able to protect themselves from rape and harassment.
• Self-defence programs should be organized by various institutions, and more and more women should be a part of these programs. 
• A safe and healthy job climate:
• The job environment should be made safe and healthy for all the employees.
• This will increase employee participation and productivity and reduce employee absenteeism and turnover.
• Women will also be able to give their careers a smooth ride and will not be forced to leave their jobs. 
• Platform to express concerns:
• Every woman should be provided with a platform to raise their concerns.
• Setting up an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) to resolve sexual harassment issues in the organizations and implement policies relating to women’s safety at the workplace.
• ICC is a mandatory committee that every employer is required to constitute within his organization.
• Responsibilities of ICC: Every company should have a safe and harassment-free workplace.
• In the case of the complaint against POSH, the ICC is solely responsible to investigate without being bias.
• Social media is emerging as a trusted platform where women can voice their opinion and share their stories and experiences.
• But not every woman has access to social media, neither their workplace has an established committee for redressal. 
• Encourage vocational training among women:
• Every woman should be provided vocational training, and an entrepreneurial skill must be imbibed in them so that they become independent, and it will reduce gender discrimination.  
• Provide equipment for the safety of women:
• The company or organization should have a provision to come up with equipment such as pepper spray that will ensure safety for women employees.
• In addition, all-time active redressal committee should be mandated in every organization to ensure safety for women.

 Measures taken for to create safe working place for women by government

Protection of Women against Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act, 2013 (POSH Act)

• Aims: to address workplace sexual harassment of women
• This law has enabled Indian women to stand up for their rights and assert their autonomy in the workplace.
• It was passed by the Indian government to protect against sexual harassment and abuse of women in the workplace.
• This Act was created to ensure that workplaces remain free from sexual harassment and to provide a safe and secure environment for women.

Vishaka guidelines

• They were provided by the Supreme Court in Vishaka and others Vs State of Rajasthan judgement in 1997.
• The guidelines has three key obligations on institutions — prohibition, prevention, redress.

Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013

• Vishaka Guidelines were superseded in 2013 by the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act.
• Aims: to provide protection against sexual harassment of women at workplace and for the prevention and redressal of complaints of sexual harassment and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
• Applicability: for all sectors including organised and unorganised sectors.

National Commission for Women

• It is the statutory body of the Government of India and established under the 1990 National Commission for Women Act.
• It has all the powers of a Civil Court
• Aims: Indian Woman should be secure in her home and outside with fully empowerment to access all her rights and entitlements and opportunity to contribute equally in all walks of life
• It is advising for government on all policy matters affecting women. It reviews Constitutional and Legal safeguards for women and recommend remedial legislative measures to Government.

MeToo movement

• It is a social movement against sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and rape culture, in which people publicize their experiences of sexual abuse or sexual harassment.
• Purpose: to empower sexually assaulted people through empathy, solidarity, and strength in numbers, by visibly demonstrating how many have experienced sexual assault and harassment, especially in the workplace.

Conclusion

In developing countries, both men and women are working in the same surroundings, at the same time, and coordinating well with each other.  Women’s safety at the workplace has become a matter of serious concern in the country. Most of the victims are found in informal sectors, who don’t have any means to exercise their rights. Women from formal sectors are mostly educated and can raise their voices against men who tend to sexually assault them through social media and redressal laws. But women who are not educated normalize the daily torture from their male co-workers. India has a long way to go to protect every woman in the country from harassment at the workplace.