Schools told to form panels to check sexual harassment

New Delhi, June 18

The Delhi government has issued fresh directions to all schools in the capital to ensure Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) is in place to deal with complaints of sexual harassment.

“As per the provisions under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013, all schools are directed to ensure constitution of the ICC,” the Directorate of Education (DoE) said in its latest communication to school principals.

The committee is supposed to have not less than four members, including presiding officer in the ICC and the tenure of all the members, including the presiding officer, shall not exceed three years from their date of nomination.

“The presiding officer of the committee shall be a woman employed at senior level in the school and at least half of the members should be women. One member must be from the NGOs or associations committed to cause of women or person familiar with issues relating to sexual harassment,” stated the DoE. — TNS