Patna: Jeevika, Bihar’s rural development initiative, organised a one-day state-level workshop on gender sensitisation, the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013 (POSH Act), and the operation of the She-Box portal at Bapu Tower, Patna, on Friday.
The workshop aimed to promote gender equality and foster safe, respectful workplaces among members of Jeevika’s Internal Committee.
Addressing the inaugural session, Pankaj Kumar, Principal Secretary of the Rural Development Department, highlighted the Bihar government’s efforts towards women’s empowerment. “Alongside economic empowerment, ensuring respect and security for women is a government priority. The Chief Minister’s Women Employment Scheme is a historic initiative, providing economic and social security on a wide scale for the first time,” he said. Kumar stressed that social change requires dialogue and participation across different sections of society, calling it a true measure of democracy in action.
Himanshu Sharma, CEO of Jeevika, noted that women face multiple challenges at different workplace levels. He emphasised the importance of understanding and correctly implementing the POSH Act, communicating its provisions to the grassroots level, and developing clear guidelines for employees to maintain a safe and equitable work environment.
Abhilasha Kumari Sharma, Additional Executive Officer at Jeevika, welcomed officials and participants, underscoring that organisational progress depends not only on plans but also on the quality of the workplace environment. She highlighted that every organisation has both a moral and legal responsibility to eliminate gender discrimination and harassment, framing the POSH Act as a critical tool in creating a respectful and secure workplace culture.
The workshop included sessions on the provisions of the POSH Act, the roles of Internal Complaints Committees, grievance redressal mechanisms, and compliance requirements. Gender specialist Gunjan Bihari and nodal officer Ankita Kashyap provided practical insights.
The programme was attended by Jeevika Director Ram Niranjan Singh, Director (Enterprise) Vinay Kumar Rai, senior department officials, project managers, and numerous committee members. Participants were encouraged to actively contribute to fostering safe, equitable, and respectful workplaces across Bihar.
