Maneka writes to India Inc on sexual harassment committees

Union Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi has asked various chambers of commerce and industry to ensure constitution of internal complaints committees to deal with sexual harassment cases.

In a letter to chambers of commerce and industry, including FICCI, CII, Assocham and PHD, she said her ministry has been receiving complaints from women working in the private sector about the absence of such a committee in their organisations.

Many members of parliament have also personally raised their concern on this issue, Gandhi said.

The minister has also asked them to furnish the compliance on this issue every month so that the ministry is able to formulate a strategy towards those entities which do not comply with the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013.

Gandhi told the media that she was also writing to chief ministers of states to ensure formation of internal complaints committee in various organisations in the states.

"The women and child development ministry had written to the respective state secretaries for setting up such committees seven months ago, and asked them to furnish report on the action taken. However, no response has been received from the states till date," she added.

The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013 provides for the constitution of an internal complaint committee by any establishment which has 10 or more employees.