‘Women’s safety at workplaces remains a priority’

Emphasising the urgent need to ensure safety and dignity for women at workplaces, Chairperson of the Andhra Pradesh State Women’s Commission, Dr. Rayapati Sailaja, said stronger and more effective implementation of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Act was essential across all sectors, including political parties and professional bodies.

She was speaking at an interaction programme organised at the Women’s Commission office, where advocates shared their views on the implementation of the PoSH Act in political organisations and professional institutions. Addressing the media later, Dr. Sailaja said the Supreme Court of India had delivered several landmark judgments on workplace safety for women, but greater seriousness was still required in translating the law into practice.

“There is still a perception among women that workplaces are unsafe. This concern exists not only in corporate offices but also in political parties, bar associations, educational institutions and other organisations,” she said, adding that the Commission would submit a detailed report to the government based on the discussions.

She noted that sexual harassment cases were increasing, but formal complaints remained low due to social stigma and fear of repercussions. “Many women choose silence to avoid social backlash. This mindset must change, within families and society at large,” she said. Dr. Sailaja also pointed out that the unorganised sector required special attention, as women there were often the most vulnerable.

The Chairperson said the government was receptive to enforcing the PoSH Act within political parties and highlighted the importance of early education. Concepts such as “good touch and bad touch” should be taught in educational institutions, she said, adding that educational reforms were already underway. “When children are sensitised early, incidents of harassment can be prevented,” she observed.

Senior advocate Rajendra Prasad said the Supreme Court had laid down clear guidelines to prevent sexual harassment at workplaces and cautioned against weakening women-centric laws on the pretext of misuse. “Laws must be updated to meet present-day realities, but not diluted,” he said, calling for a broader definition of ‘workplace’ to include political parties, bar associations, canteens, and digital platforms.

He noted that women constituted around 20 percent of the judiciary overall and nearly 50 percent in lower courts, underscoring the need to instill confidence among women about workplace safety.