Jamshedpur, August 31, 2026: The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Jamshedpur conducted a one-day training programme for Para Legal Volunteers (PLVs) on the law dealing with prevention, prohibition and redressal of sexual harassment of women at the workplace.
The programme was held at the conference hall of Nyay Sadan, where PLVs were briefed on the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, commonly known as the POSH Act.
PLVs briefed on women’s legal rights
DLSA secretary Kumar Saurabh Tripathi and mediator advocate Preeti Murmu explained various provisions of the law and the rights available to women facing sexual harassment at work.
The training highlighted that the legislation is intended to provide women with protection from sexual harassment and promote a safe and respectful workplace. Participants were also briefed on the importance of protecting women’s dignity and equality and providing an effective mechanism for dealing with complaints.
ICC mandatory in workplaces with 10 or more employees
During the session, PLVs were informed that the POSH Act covers government and private organisations, companies, educational institutions, hospitals and workplaces in the unorganised sector.
Institutions with 10 or more employees are required to constitute an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC). For establishments with fewer than 10 employees, and complaints against an employer, the law provides for a Local Complaints Committee (LCC) at the district level.
Three-month window for filing complaints
Participants were told that a woman can submit a written complaint within three months of the incident, subject to the provisions of the law.
The training covered conduct that may fall within the scope of sexual harassment, including unwelcome physical contact, demands or requests for sexual favours, sexually coloured remarks, offensive gestures and other unwelcome verbal, non-verbal or physical conduct.
PLVs asked to take legal awareness to women
The PLVs were instructed to conduct awareness programmes and ensure that women are informed about their rights and available complaint mechanisms.
They were also told to encourage women not to remain silent in cases of workplace sexual harassment and to use the prescribed grievance-redressal system.
The trainers stressed that confidentiality relating to complaints and inquiries is an important aspect of the process. They also underlined that creating a safe and respectful workplace is a shared responsibility involving employers, colleagues and the institution as a whole.
A number of PLVs, including Nagendra Kumar, Sunil Pandey, Shiv Shankar Mahto, Ashish Prajapati, Nanda Rajak, Arun Rajak, Sanjay Tiwari, Prakash Mishra, Sadanand Mahto, Ram Kande Mishra, Joba Rani Baskey, Sunita Kumari, Goloria Purti, Seema Devi, Sunita Jha, Prashish Marandi, Reena Tiwari, Jayanto Nandi, Baleshwar Das and Gaurav Kumar, attended the training along with other participants.
