Srinagar, June 17: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting to review the implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act) across Jammu and Kashmir, stressing the need to ensure safe, secure and dignified workplaces for women in both government and private sectors.

The meeting was attended by senior officers from the Home, Social Welfare, Law, Rural Development and Transport Departments, besides representatives of Mission Shakti, Information Department and district administrations.
Emphasising strict enforcement of the POSH Act and directions of the Supreme Court, the Chief Secretary directed the Social Welfare Department to formulate a comprehensive implementation framework with clearly defined responsibilities at all levels to ensure workplace compliance.
Dulloo called for greater awareness among women employees regarding their rights, safeguards and grievance redressal mechanisms available under the Act. He also stressed the importance of regular capacity-building programmes for District Nodal Officers, Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) and other stakeholders involved in implementation.
He asked the Law Department to facilitate legal literacy and training programmes through Legal Services Authorities and directed Mission Shakti to conduct monthly Mahila Jan Sunwai programmes under the supervision of District Magistrates, SSPs and District Legal Services Authorities to provide women with dedicated grievance redressal platforms.
The Chief Secretary further instructed departments to widely disseminate Information, Education and Communication (IEC) material on the POSH Act, Women Helpline-181 and the SHe-Box portal through workplaces and official websites.
Commissioner Secretary, Social Welfare Department, Sarmad Hafeez informed the meeting that Internal Complaints Committees have been constituted in government offices down to the tehsil and block levels. He said 978 institutions and workplaces employing women have been identified so far and highlighted the need for comprehensive mapping of all workplaces across the Union Territory.
He added that government departments and private establishments have been advised to prominently display details of Women Helpline-181 and the SHe-Box portal, while a series of awareness campaigns and capacity-building workshops are planned in the coming months.
Mission Director, Mission Vatsalya/Mission Shakti, Rubina Kousar informed the meeting that 2,826 government offices and 1,048 private establishments have been mapped on the designated portal. She said three complaints of workplace sexual harassment had been received and addressed in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of the administration's commitment to ensuring a safe, respectful and harassment-free work environment for women across Jammu and Kashmir through effective implementation of the POSH Act and sustained awareness initiatives.