New Delhi: As per the records with the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), as many as 965 cases of sexual harassment of women at workplaces were reported from across the country in 2018 the Lok Saba was informed on Friday.Minister of State for Women and Child Development Dr Virendra Kumar in a written reply in the Lok Sabha said that according to ‘Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace' data provided by the NCRB, 29 cases were registered in January 2019.

Earlier in  2014, the NCRB has been collecting data regarding sexual harassment at the workplaces under the category of insult to the modesty of women (Section 509 of IPC) at the offices. The minister said that “So far as the complaints registered with the National Commission for Women (NCW) are concerned, there is an increase in complaints registered under category ‘Sexual Harassment includes Sexual harassment at Workplace,”. The minister further added that “The setting up of internal committee in each and every government department, institution or autonomous body is mandated as per the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013,”

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The data indicate that the number of such complaints registered during the last three years was 539, 570 and 965 in 2016, 2017 and 2018 respectively. However, Union Ministry of Women and Child Development has developed an online complaint management system titled ‘Sexual Harassment electronic–Box' (SHe-Box) for registering complaints related to sexual harassment at the workplaces by women, including government and private employees. So far, 423 complaints have been registered at SHe-Box.

Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI), and National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) have been requested by Union Ministry of Women and Child Development to ensure effective implementation of the Act amongst their members in private sectors.

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