In a decisive move to ensure safer campuses, the Odisha Government has mandated all higher education institutions (HEIs) under its purview to form Internal Committees (ICs) to address sexual harassment at the workplace, in strict compliance with the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (commonly known as the POSH Act).
The Higher Education Department issued an urgent directive addressed to all state public/private universities and government/aided/unaided degree colleges, mandating immediate compliance within 24 hours.
Key Directives for Institutions
As per the official circular, all universities and colleges must:
Constitute Internal Committees (ICs) in accordance with Section 4 of the POSH Act, 2013, ensuring:
- Adequate representation of women members
- Inclusion of external representatives
- Adherence to UGC (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of Sexual Harassment of Women Employees and Students in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2015
Display the names and contact numbers of all IC members in a conspicuous location within the institution for public awareness.
These details must also be uploaded to the Higher Education Management System (HIMS) portal.
Organise workshops on the POSH Act for the sensitization of students and faculty members, promoting awareness of rights, redressal mechanisms, and institutional responsibilities.
Upload geo-tagged photographs showing the IC details displayed on campus to the government’s designated Google Drive link: https://tinyurl.com/ICCHET125
Urgency and Accountability
This directive follows multiple prior communications (Ref: 37417/HE, 24703/HE, and 24698/HE) and emphasizes the “Most Urgent” status of this mandate. Institutions have been given a 24-hour deadline to report full compliance, underlining the government’s seriousness about ensuring safe and inclusive learning environments.
A Step Toward Safer Campuses
This initiative aligns with national efforts to combat sexual harassment and enforce gender-sensitive governance in educational institutions. The creation and activation of Internal Committees across HEIs will provide structured mechanisms for grievance redressal and prevention of harassment, particularly for women students and employees.
For ongoing updates and resources on implementing POSH guidelines in educational settings, institutions are encouraged to stay connected with the Odisha Higher Education Department and the University Grants Commission (UGC).