NEW DELHI (ANN/THE STATESMAN) – India’s Ministry of Women and Child Development launched the new SHe-Box portal on Thursday, a centralised platform designed to register and monitor complaints of sexual harassment in the workplace.
Union Minister Annapurna Devi also unveiled the ministry’s newly developed website during the event.
The SHe-Box portal serves as a comprehensive repository for information related to Internal Committees (ICs) and Local Committees (LCs) established nationwide across both government and private sectors. It provides a unified platform for filing complaints, tracking their progress, and ensuring that they are processed in a timely manner by the ICs. The portal aims to guarantee effective redressal of complaints while streamlining the process for all involved parties. A designated nodal officer will oversee the real-time monitoring of complaints.
As India approaches its centenary in the next 25 years, the government has emphasised women-led development over the past decade, acknowledging the crucial role of women’s leadership in fostering inclusive economic growth.
This initiative’s key aspect is ensuring that workplaces are safe and secure, enabling women to excel. The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013, serves to protect women from harassment in the workplace and to address their grievances. The introduction of the SHe-Box portal marks a significant advancement in managing and addressing such complaints.
Alongside the SHe-Box portal, the ministry launched a new website to establish a cohesive visual identity across digital platforms, enhancing the government’s engagement with national and international audiences. As digital platforms increasingly become the primary point of contact for citizens, a strong online presence is essential.
At the event, Mrs. Annapurna Devi stated, “This initiative is a vital step toward providing a more efficient and secure platform for addressing workplace-related sexual harassment complaints. It furthers the government’s commitment to creating a safer and more inclusive working environment for women across India.” She expressed confidence that the portal will allow complaints to be registered safely, with personal information kept confidential.
