BANDIPORA, JULY 09: The District administration Bandipora Tuesday organized a day-long seminar on “Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace” and “Women Empowerment” at Conference hall of Mini-Secretariat.
The seminar was attended by female employees of various departments including Education, Social Welfare, ICDS and Health besides female students from several schools of the district.
The District Development Commissioner (DDC) Bandipora Shahbaz Ahmad Mirza was the chief guest on the occasion while Additional Deputy Commissioner Bandipora Zahoor Ahmad Mir was guest of honor. Deputy Chief Education Officer Rafiq Ahmad Parray, District Social Welfare Officer Altaf Hussain and other senior officers of the district were also present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner urged the female employees not to tolerate any kind of harassment at work place and speak up against it so that no one is emboldened by female’s silence. He said a committee has already been constituted at district level wherein the employees can register their complaint in case of harassment. He said similar committees have also been constituted at Tehsil level and in educational institutions. He urged upon the women employees to feel free to complain before the complaint committee in case of any sexual harassment at workplace.
He called for similar sensitization programs for male employees so that they are also sensitized about the issues. He said the objective of the seminar was to make womenfolk aware of the provisions regarding the Act related to protection against Sexual Harassment of Women.
On the occasion, Speakers said that a safe workplace is every women’s right. Speakers including Dr Nuzhat Wali, Aamira Wali, Farah Deeba, Afsha Nazir and Iqra Majeed Shah delivered speeches on the relevant topics and highlighted different aspects of the harassment at workplace. They urged the women folk not to remain silent about the issue but stressed on the need to speak up against the harassment so that it can be checked.
Students of Govt Girls Higher Secondary School Bandipora on the occasion presented a skit on the topic.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Zahoor Ahmad Mir while speaking on the occasion said that the administration has recently established One-Stop Centre and Mahila Shaktee Kendra exclusively for the women that is being run by the women staff. He said the centre is being made fully functional as recruitment process has also been completed.
He said the centre serves women affected by violence, in private or at public places, within the family, community or at workplace. He said the centre is having representatives from health, education, administration, and police besides the resource persons from various departments who assist the aggrieved womenfolk. He said OSC is the place of the women managed by the women and for the women where she can walk in without any fear and can discuss their problems freely.
