Bhubaneswar: In a move to enhance safety and awareness about women’s rights in educational institutions, the Odisha Higher Education Department has directed all universities and colleges to display the Women Helpline Number ‘181’ at prominent places on campus.
This directive aims to provide easy access to support services for women in case of emergencies or harassment.
Furthermore, the department has emphasised the importance of adhering to the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act, 2013), and the guidelines issued by the University Grants Commission. To ensure strict compliance, the Higher Education Department has mandated that all universities and colleges organise awareness workshops.
These workshops will be attended by students, teaching and non-teaching staff, and members of the Internal Complaints Committee, who will take an oath to adhere to the provisions of the POSH Act, 2013.
The institutions have been asked to provide details of the workshop to the Higher Education Department within the next three days.
