Women cell of ICAR- CIARI, Sri Vijaya Puram organized workshop for conducting awareness on Sexual harassment of women at workplace (prevention, prohibition and redressal) as per POCH Act 2013 on 9th December 2024. The POSH Act mandates all organizations, both private and public, to establish Internal Committees (lCs) for handling sexual harassment complaints. ICAR-CIARI under the banner of its Internal (women) Complaint Committee (ICC) conducted sensitization programme on prohibition of sexual harassment. The guest talk was delivered by Advocate Smti. Rinku Narayan, District and Session Court, A&N Islands. She detailed the history and background of the POCH act. She explained about VISHAKA guidelines and importance of ICC to address sexual harassment cases. She also narrated about various forms of sexual harassment and how to lodge such type of complaints. Dr. T. Sujatha, Principal Scientist & Chairman, Internal (women) Complaint Committee, ICAR-CIARI informed that ICC at ICAR-CIARI has not have any such type of complaints.
Simultaneously, awareness on AIDS control was given by Dr. Jahanara Yasmeen, Deputy Director (MS&IEC), A&N AIDS Control Society. Dr. E.B. Chakurkar, Director, ICAR-CIARI urged all the women to raise voice while such type of sexual harassment happens at workplaces. He also advised for self management and discipline to prevent the sexual harassment at workplaces. The programme was concluded with vote of thanks by Shri. Kanishk Bhukar, Administrative Officer and organizing secretary of the programme.