The office of the Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur, held a sensitization programme to discuss the Implementation of the Sexual Harassment at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 on 24th March 2025.
Chairing the program, Litsenthung Kikon, EAC, Dimapur, acknowledged that cases of workplace sexual harassment often go unreported in Naga society due to discomfort and lack of awareness. However, he noted that significant progress has been made in implementing the Act at the district level.
He also said letters have been sent to departments urging them to establish Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) to monitor and address instances of sexual harassment in the workplace.
Kikon explained that the ICC must be headed by a woman president, with three additional members, at least half of whom should be women. The committee members will serve a tenure of three years from the date of their nomination.
He further stated that while the Act was passed in 2013, its implementation in the region is still in its early stages. However, efforts like this sensitization program mark a major step forward in enforcing the law and educating employees about their rights.
Speaking on the issue, Moanenla Yaden, Chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Dimapur, Elizabeth Humtsoe, Lecturer at City Law College, Dimapur, and Alomi Sumi, Child Helpline project coordinator stressed that many women remain unaware of their rights under the Act. “Unless we educate them about their rights, they will not know how to seek justice,” they stated.
They emphasized the need for greater awareness and education regarding the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013 to ensure a safe and respectful work environment for women.
They said that the Act defines sexual harassment as any unwelcome sexually defined behavior that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment. It applies to both organized and unorganized sectors, covering government offices, private and public sector organizations, NGOs, and other institutions. The Act covers a broad range of misconduct, including physical contact, sexually suggestive remarks, demands for sexual favors, and displaying pornography. It aims to prevent and redress workplace sexual harassment, ensuring that women work in an environment free from discrimination and intimidation.
The speakers called for strict enforcement of the law and regular awareness programs to empower women to report cases of harassment without fear.
The programme served as a platform for open discussions and collective strategies to prevent, prohibit, and redress cases of workplace harassment across different sectors in Dimapur and was attended by officials from different departments and representatives from different organizations
(I.Tiakumla.Ao, IA Dimapur)
