Odisha to amend Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government is planning to amend the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 in pursuant to which a team led by the chairperson of Odisha State Commission for Women Lopamudra Baxipatra held discussions with Law minister Pratap Jena today.

There are many loopholes in the prevailing act due to which the accused, even after being proved guilty, manages to escape many a times, said Jena stating further that keeping this in view steps are being taken to amend the act.

"There is a need for amendments in the act to enforce it strictly. We had a discussion on how stringent action will be taken against the persons accused of sexually harassing women at workplaces," he added.

“The powers entrusted on the women commission are also not sufficient to provide security to women. Therefore, a proposal has been given in the meeting to give additional powers to the commission,” said Baxipatra.

We had a discussion on various acts that are being implemented but there is a need of strengthening the mechanism, she added.