What are the NCW’s Recommendations for Coaching Centres?

What are the concerns of NCW?

• The Commission has expressed concern over incidents of sexual harassment at coaching centers and has directed the authorities to ensure strict implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, and guidelines established thereunder.
• The Commission is concerned of the rising incidences of sexual harassment in coaching/educational institutions which has become one of the most pressing issues affecting women across the globe.
• Nearly 31,000 complaints of crimes committed against women were received by the National Commission for Women (NCW) in 2022, the highest since 2014.
• In 2021, the NCW had received 30,864 complaints while in 2022, the number slightly increased to 30,957.
• About 54.5 per cent (16,872) of the complaints were received from the most populous state of Uttar Pradesh. Delhi recorded 3,004 complaints, followed by Maharashtra (1,381), Bihar (1,368) and Haryana (1,362).

Recommendations of NCW

• The Commission has requested that instructions be given to all coaching institutes to ensure effective steps are taken for prevention of sexual harassment of female students.
• The Commission has asked concerned authorities to conduct awareness programs on the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013 among all stakeholders in order to ensure that cases of sexual harassment at work are reported responsibly and effectively.
• The Commission has also asked States and Union Territories to ensure that these coaching centers are registered with the relevant authorities and a background check is conducted on those responsible for running the centers.

Also Read: UPSC Essentials: Women Freedom Fighters of India

About the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013

• The Sexual Harassment Act (based on Vishakha guidelines, 1997) was passed by the Parliament in 2013.
• The Act defines workplace as an extended space by covering any place visited by an employee during the course of his or her employment which would include transportation provided by an employer for the purpose of travelling to and from the place of work by the employee.
• The Act is applicable to all the sectors including organized and unorganized sectors.
• Under the Act, penalties have been prescribed for employers and  non-compliance with the provisions of the Act shall be punishable with a fine.
• As per the provisions of the Act, every employer is required to constitute an Internal Complaints Committee at each office or branch with 10 or more employees.
• The committee will have the power of civil court while deciding on the case.

About the National Commission for Women (NCW)

• The Commission is a statutory body set up in January 1992, under the provisions of the National Commission for Women Act, 1990.
• The Commission consists of a chairperson, a member secretary, and five other members. 
• The Central Government nominated the chairperson of the NCW.
• The Commission strives towards enabling women to achieve equality and equal participation in all spheres of life by securing her due rights and entitlements through suitable policy formulation, legislative measures, etc.
• Functions of the Commission:

1.Review the constitutional and legal safeguards to women.

2.Recommend remedial legislative measures.

3.Facilitate redressal of grievances.

4.Advise the Government on all policy matters affecting women.

Way forward

• The JS Verma Committee recommendations on Sexual Harassment at the Workplace Act can be considered for implementation. The Committee recommended:

1.Setting up of an employment tribunal in place of an internal complaints committee (ICC) for speedy justice.

2.The Commission must have the power to choose its own procedure to deal with each complaint rather than functioning as a civil court.

3.Inclusion of Domestic workers within the purview of the Act.

• Need for a holistic approach: All the stakeholders including Law makers, police officers, forensic department, prosecutors, judiciary, medical & health department, NGOs, rehabilitation centers, must work together.

News Source: The Hindu, Business standard 

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ncw-writes-to-states-to-ensure-sexual-harassment-law-implementation-by-coaching-institutes/article66321025.ece

https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/ncw-received-nearly-31-000-complaints-of-crimes-against-women-in-2022-123010100165_1.html

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