WCD Dept organises POSH awareness workshop for Odisha Secretariat officials

Bhubaneswar, March 2026: The Women and Child Development (WCD) Department organised a workshop on the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act) for officials of the State Secretariat in Bhubaneswar, aiming to strengthen awareness and promote a safe and respectful work environment.

The session featured resource persons Smt. Sneh Sharma and Smt. Mansi Padhi, who delivered detailed presentations on the provisions, implementation and significance of the POSH Act. They underscored the need to foster a workplace culture rooted in dignity, equality and mutual respect.

The programme was inaugurated by Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Women and Child Development Department, Dr. Mrinalini Darswal, who highlighted the growing relevance of the POSH Act in the administrative framework. She emphasised that ensuring a safe workplace is both a legal mandate and a moral responsibility, particularly in a progressive state like Odisha.

Officials actively participated in the workshop, engaging in discussions and sharing perspectives on workplace ethics and grievance redressal mechanisms.

The workshop concluded with participants reaffirming their commitment to uphold the principles of safety, inclusivity and gender sensitivity at the workplace.

Aliva Avilipsa