Yogi govt to make every workplace safe for women

Lucknow, Sept 2025 : Under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Mission Shakti 5.0, which aims to promote women’s safety, respect, and self-reliance, is gradually becoming a statewide people’s movement. In this sequence, the Department of Women and Child Development organized “Safe Workplace – Empowered Women” campaign and awareness programs under the Sewa Pakhwada simultaneously in 75 districts of the state on Friday.

The main objective of these programs was to inform participants and the public about the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act), which protects women in the workplace from sexual harassment. On the first day of the campaign, approximately 50,000 women participated in various events across the state.

Officials and employees from government and private offices, members of women’s self-help groups, college students, advocates, labour organisations, and representatives from the local community participated in the awareness campaign. As part of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s women empowerment initiative, this campaign focuses on the POSH Act and the financial and legal rights of working women, adding a new dimension to women’s safety, respect, and self-reliance.

The primary objective of Mission Shakti 5.0 is to ensure the safety, respect, and self-reliance of women and girls. These events included detailed discussions on the provisions of the POSH Act. The Act defines physical, verbal, or non-verbal conduct at the workplace that harms a woman’s dignity as sexual harassment.

Under the Posh Act, internal complaints committees are mandatory in organisations with more than ten employees, while district-level local committees are responsible for hearing complaints. The time frame for filing a complaint is three months, which can be extended if necessary. Investigations must be completed and reports submitted within 90 days.

The Act safeguards a woman’s confidentiality and provides for disciplinary action or a fine against the employer if the offence is established. Employers are obligated to ensure safe workplaces, conduct awareness programs, and comply with the committee’s recommendations.
Apart from the POSH Act, the programs also highlighted the financial and legal rights of working women.

Special sessions were conducted on topics such as maternity leave benefits, equal pay for equal work, workplace health and safety provisions, special protections under labour laws, financial literacy, and access to banking and insurance schemes. Experts emphasized that economic empowerment is the true foundation of women’s safety. This campaign, under Mission Shakti 5.0, aims to bring about positive behavioural changes in women, enabling them to become the cornerstone of a strong society by engaging with laws, schemes, and opportunities.

The campaign under Mission Shakti 5.0 aims to strengthen women’s safety, respect, and self-reliance. Under the Sewa Pakhwada, this initiative is significant in making workplaces women-friendly. Moreover, between September 22 and 25, various programs reached 385,681 individuals, including 165,822 males and 219,857 females. This initiative realizes the Yogi government’s theme of ‘Empowered Woman, Safe Workplace.’

Leena Johri, Principal Secretary of the Department of Women and Child Development, said that Mission Shakti 5.0 is not just about implementing schemes but a continuous campaign for social transformation. Awareness of the POSH Act is a crucial component of this transformation. Our goal is to ensure that every workplace is not only safe for women but also fosters an environment where they can work with respect and confidence. Every woman and child will be truly safe and self-reliant only when society takes responsibility and moves forward.

The Principal Secretary stated that the department is committed to organising POSH-related training programs at regular intervals in every district over the coming months. Employers and organizations will be made accountable for their responsibilities. Special campaigns will be run to enhance women’s legal literacy and financial awareness. With active participation from every section of society, the dream of “Empowered Woman, Safe Workplace” will be realized.