Strengthening Workplace Safety: Launch of New SHe-Box Portal
In a significant milestone for
women empowerment
and workplace safety
, the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) launched the revamped SHe-Box portal
on August 29, 2024. This initiative, led by Union Minister Smt. Annpurna Devi, marks a pivotal shift towards a more efficient and secure system for addressing grievances related to sexual harassment
in both public and private sectors. The portal serves as a unified platform to streamline complaint registration and monitoring, ensuring a safer professional environment for women across India.
Launching Ministry
Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD)
Primary Objective
Streamlined Complaint Registration and Monitoring
Scope
Public & Private Sectors; Organized & Unorganized
Key Initiatives & Strategic Focus
The improved
SHe-Box portal
(Sexual Harassment electronic Box) is designed to be a one-stop solution, integrating technology with the legal framework of the PoSH Act, 2013, to achieve tangible results for women safety.
🏛️ Centralized Repository
The portal serves as a nationwide database of Information related to Internal Committees (ICs) and Local Committees (LCs) established under the Act. All entities—Ministries, Departments, States, UTs, and the private sector—are required to update their committee details on this platform. The Ministry aims to on-board details of all Central Ministries/Departments by October 2024.
👩🏽🌾 Streamlined Redressal
A breakthrough feature of the revamped portal allows women to submit complaints directly to the concerned IC or LC of their choice. This significantly reduces human interference, minimizes bureaucratic delays, and provides an efficient mechanism for speedy grievance redressal while ensuring the complete
confidentiality
of the complainant's personal information.🔄 Awareness and Accessibility
•
Multilingual Resources
: Handbooks, training modules, advisory documents, and awareness videos about the PoSH Act are available free of charge in both Hindi and English.•
Inclusive Reach
: Access is provided to all women working in any capacity, including those in the organized, unorganized, private, public, and even domestic work sectors.•
New Ministry Website
: The event also marked the unveiling of a newly developed MWCD website, aiming to establish a cohesive visual identity across digital platforms.
The successful operationalization of the SHe-Box portal hinges on all sectors, including the
private sector
, updating their IC/LC details. This initiative is a major stride towards India’s vision of women-led development
and creating a safe and inclusive workforce as the nation approaches its centenary in 2047.
UPSC CSE Quiz
1. Consider the following statements regarding the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, commonly known as the PoSH Act:
1. The definition of a 'workplace' under the Act includes only organized public and private sector organizations.
2. 'Local Committees' (LCs) are established at the district level to handle complaints from organizations with fewer than 10 employees.
3. 'Internal Committees' (ICs) must be constituted by every employer having ten or more employees in an office or branch.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A) 1 only
B) 2 and 3 only
C) 2 and 3 only ✓
D) 1, 2, and 3
Source Information
PIB (Ministry of Women and Child Development)
