North Central Railway Concludes POSH Awareness Week with High-Impact Workshop

Prayagraj : In a significant move toward fostering a safer and more inclusive professional environment, the North Central Railway (NCR) Headquarters successfully concluded its "Sexual Harassment Prevention Week" today. The week-long initiative, which ran from December 10 to December 17 following directives from the Railway Board, culminated in an intensive educational workshop dedicated to the prevention of sexual harassment of women at the workplace.

The seminar, held at the NCR Headquarters in Prayagraj, brought together distinguished experts from the medical, academic, and financial sectors. The keynote speakers included Dr. Manju Lata Handu (Additional Chief Health Director), Dr. Sadhna Srivastava (Assistant Professor, UP Rajarshi Tandon Open University), and Mrs. Garima Tripathi (Deputy Chief Financial Advisor, HQ Prayagraj).

Dr. Manju Lata Handu provided a comprehensive breakdown of the POSH Act 2013 (Prevention of Sexual Harassment). She emphasized that awareness is the first step toward prevention. Her session meticulously detailed the legal definitions of harassment, the rights of the complainant, and the mandatory protocols that organizations must follow to ensure justice.

Adding academic and historical depth to the discussion, Dr. Sadhna Srivastava educated the attendees on the evolution of women's safety laws in India. She specifically focused on the landmark Vishakha Committee guidelines, which laid the foundation for modern workplace safety laws.

The workshop served as a vital bridge between theoretical law and practical application. Mrs. Garima Tripathi addressed the administrative aspects, explaining the internal mechanisms available within the Railways to report grievances without fear of retaliation. She highlighted the importance of a transparent "Internal Complaints Committee" (ICC) and the role of bystanders in maintaining a respectful work culture.

The event saw enthusiastic participation from female railway employees across all departments of the North Central Railway. The interactive nature of the seminar allowed employees to voice their concerns, seek clarifications on subtle forms of workplace misconduct, and understand the digital tools available for reporting incidents.

The North Central Railway administration reaffirmed its "Zero Tolerance" policy toward any form of gender-based discrimination or harassment. Officials noted that such workshops are not merely a formality but a continuous effort to empower women, ensuring they contribute to the nation’s lifeline—the Railways—with dignity and security.

(Report by Zainul Abdin)