National Commission for Women

National Commission for Women

News: The National Commission for Women (NCW) has asked all States to ensure strict implementation of the sexual harassment at workplace law. 

About NCW:
• Under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990, the NCW was set up as a statutory body in January 1992. The First Commission was constituted on 31st January 1992 with Mrs. Jayanti Patnaik as the Chairperson. 
• The commission consists of a chairperson, a member secretary and five other members. The chairperson of the NCW is nominated by the Central Government.
• Its mission is to strive towards enabling women to achieve equality and equal participation in all spheres of life by securing her due rights and entitlements through suitable policy formulation, legislative measures, etc.

What are concerns raised by NCW?
• The NCW has expressing concern over incidents of sexual harassment at coaching centres and educational institutes and asked to ensure strict implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 and guidelines established thereunder.
• In recent years, sexual harassment at workplace is becoming one of the most pressing issues affecting women across the globe.
• Nearly 31,000 complaints of crimes committed against women were received by the NCW in 2022, the highest since 2014. About 54.5 % of the complaints were received from Uttar Pradesh. Delhi recorded 3,004 complaints, followed by Maharashtra (1,381), Bihar (1,368) and Haryana (1,362).
• Crimes that women were subjected to - Domestic violence, Harassment of married women or dowry harassment, Sexual harassment at workplace, Rape and attempt to rape, Cybercrimes.

What is Protection of Women against Sexual Harassment Act, 2013?
• The Supreme Court in a landmark judgement in the Vishakha and others v State of Rajasthan 1997 case gave Vishakha guidelines. These guidelines formed the basis for the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 ('Sexual Harassment Act').
• The Act defines sexual harassment at the workplace and creates a mechanism for redressal of complaints.
 o Every employer is required to constitute an Internal Complaints Committee at each office or branch with 10 or more employees.
 o The Complaints Committees have the powers of civil courts for gathering evidence.
 o The Complaints Committees are required to provide for conciliation before initiating an inquiry if requested by the complainant.
• Penalties have been prescribed for employers. Non-compliance with the provisions of the Act shall be punishable with a fine. Repeated violations may lead to higher penalties and cancellation of license or registration to conduct business.
• The State Government will notify the District Officer in every district, who will constitute a Local Complaints Committee (LCC) so as to enable women in the unorganised sector or small establishments to work in an environment free of sexual harassment. 

What is the need of the hour?
• To implement JS Verma Committee recommendations on Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act. 
• Setting up of an employment tribunal instead of an internal complaint committee (ICC) in the Sexual Harassment at the Workplace Act.
• To ensure speedy disposal of complaints, the committee proposed that the tribunal should not function as a civil court but may choose its own procedure to deal with each complaint. 
• Domestic workers should be included within the purview of the Act. The Committee said any “unwelcome behavior” should be seen from the subjective perception of the complainant, thus broadening the scope of the definition of sexual harassment.