POSH Act Cases Have Risen Over the Last Decade, But Where Did They Come From?
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Centre for Economic Data & Analysis (CEDA) reveals loopholes in POSH Act !
The Centre for Economic Data & Analysis (CEDA)’s report, ‘A Decade of the POSH Act: What the Data Tells Us about How India Inc. Has Fared‘, offers a valuable analysis of the effectiveness of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act in Indian workplaces. While the report highlights a positive increase in reported cases, it also unveils gaps in implementation and a need for further action.
The report’s most encouraging finding is an increase in reported sexual harassment instances since the POSH Act was implemented in 2013. This suggests that some women are becoming more aware of the situation and are willing to speak up. The number of complaints is growing faster than the number of complaints that have been resolved.
However, only a small number of businesses have reported incidences, while others have reported no cases, often for years. Almost 80 per cent of the reported incidents occurred in larger businesses (top 100 on the National Stock Exchange). Medium reports a low number of events and no cases from smaller firms. This shows severe underreporting, raising concerns about the Act’s genuine effectiveness.
Companies are also required to report the number of unresolved and pending complaints at the end of each fiscal year. The act requires that probes into complaints be completed within 90 days. The number of pending complaints for these companies has likewise increased over time as given in the report.
However, it is worth noting that the number of outstanding cases is less than the difference between reported and settled instances. This could be the result of a variety of events, including the complainant withdrawing their complaint and/or either the complainant or the accused quitting the company
Comprehensive awareness campaigns are the foundation of a successful fight against harassment. These programs must educate personnel at all levels, across industries, and in several languages. Workshops, training programs, and instructional resources in easily accessible formats can be useful in this regard. Employees can detect and report harassment events if they understand their rights under the POSH Ac
