The Higher Education Department of Odisha has issued a strict directive to all educational institutions, mandating the upload of harassment complaint details and their resolutions to the SHE-Box portal by August 1, 2025.
This initiative aims to enhance transparency and accountability in addressing sexual harassment cases involving women in educational institutions and workplaces across the state.
The directive, issued in compliance with the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013, requires institutions to provide comprehensive data on complaints received, their resolutions, and the composition of Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) at both departmental and institutional levels.
The SHE-Box portal, an upgraded platform developed by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, will serve as a centralised repository for this information, ensuring accessibility and oversight.
Mousumi Nayak, Joint Secretary of the Higher Education Department, emphasised the urgency of the mandate in a letter addressed to all Regional Education Directors. These directors have been appointed as Nodal Officers, tasked with ensuring that institutions under their jurisdiction upload the required data, including ICC details, to the portal by the stipulated deadline. Failure to comply with the mandate could result in penalties.
This move is seen as a significant step toward safeguarding women’s rights and fostering a safer working environment in educational settings. The directive underscores Odisha’s commitment to addressing workplace harassment and aligns with national efforts to empower women through the stringent enforcement of protective legislation.
