In a step towards ensuring the safety and security of women in workplaces across the country, the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) has launched the SHe-Box portal. The portal, which went live on October 19, 2024, is designed to streamline the registration and redressal of sexual harassment complaints under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.
Announcing the launch in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Savitri Thakur, emphasized that the SHe-Box portal will serve as a centralized repository for Internal Committees (ICs) and Local Committees (LCs) across workplaces in both public and private sectors. This initiative is expected to significantly enhance transparency and accountability in handling sexual harassment complaints.
The portal has already received nine complaints since its launch, signaling the growing trust in this digital redressal mechanism. It is designed to ensure compliance with the 90-day inquiry timeline mandated under the Act, and all central ministries and departments have been onboarded. The MWCD is now focusing on integrating state, UT, and private sector workplaces into the system.
The SH Act, 2013, mandates that every employer with more than 10 employees must establish an IC, while district-level LCs are to be constituted for organizations with fewer employees or when the complaint involves the employer. The MWCD has been proactive in issuing advisories and organizing awareness programs to ensure effective implementation of the Act across the country.
This move is expected to bolster women’s confidence in workplace safety and encourage reporting of incidents, thereby contributing to a safer and more inclusive working environment across India.
