Rainmaker Commemorates 10 Years Of The PoSH Act
Rainmaker commemorated the 10th anniversary of the PoSH Act of 2013 by hosting a webinar to discuss and share insights on the evolution of the PoSH Law, best practices and the impact the law in advancing workplace inclusion. The PoSH Act is important in India as it serves as a legal mandate for organizations to create safe and inclusive work environments. Rainmaker hosted prominent dignitaries, including lawyers, CHROs and social workers at the day-long event.
Speaking about the event, Antony J. Alex, CEO of Rainmaker, said, "Addressing sexual harassment in the workplace is not just a legal mandate, it’s a commitment to sharing a workplace that is inclusive and where everyone feels safe and respected. As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the PoSH Act, we at Rainmaker are honoured to have hosted this webinar. Bhanwari Devi and Kavita Srivastava are incredible sources of inspiration for those of us working in this space – they stand tall as beacons of grit who encourage us to keep fighting the good fight. This is a moment to reflect on the progress made, acknowledge the challenges ahead and collectively work towards a future where every workplace is a bastion of dignity and equality."
The PoSH Act is a legislation enacted by the Government of India in 2013 to address the issue of sexual harassment faced by women in the workplace. The Act aimed to create a safe and conducive work environment for women and provide protection against sexual harassment.
Social worker Bhanwari Devi, the woman responsible for the inception of this Act, said, “PoSH implementation needs to happen to the hilt, we need to struggle for justice, but we also need to demand a new law -- the right to work and employment for all. They need to go hand in hand. I will fight till the end of my life for justice in my case. Even if I die, the struggle for my justice should continue. I struggled and am still struggling for all women to live a life with dignity, free of sexual harassment. I appeal to young and old women to never take any oppression lying down. Fight against it.”
Social Worker (National President of PUCL) and Co-founder of Vishaka, Kavita Srivastava, said, “The journey, since we got into the struggle of Bhanwari Devi, where such a law was conceived and conceptualized from the grassroots and the PIL of five organizations - Vishaka and others was filed in the SC, leading to framing legally binding directions in 1997 to the enactment of the Act in 2013, has been transformative. Being invited to speak at this webinar, marking the 10th anniversary of the Law, is a privilege and a testament to the collective commitment to progress. I feel strongly that firstly we need to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the law in the diverse sectors, understand the nature of the workplace, the forms of violence that have been reported, what were the challenges and how was it worked upon by committees. We need to launch it now."
"Enforcing compliance with the PoSH Act is not only essential for preventing sexual harassment, but also contributes to fostering gender equality, protecting employee well-being and promoting a positive workplace culture. The Act encourages reporting and redressal mechanisms, mandates awareness programs and holds legal consequences for non-compliance, underscoring its significance in shaping respectful and equitable workplaces in line with international best practices.”
Delna Elavia, CHRO, Estee Lauder Companies, said, “Building a culture of respect and non-retaliation will always lead to a culture of compliance.”
Kashmeera Prabhu, Head HR, NOCIL Ltd, added, "The PoSH act has been instrumental in creating awareness, compliance, reporting and governance since it came into force in 2013. However, now the onus is on organizations to redefine it and take it to the next level of inclusion and impact.”
