Major Launches to Strengthen Compliance
Union Minister Smt. Annapurna Devi launched the new SHe-Box logo, the PoSH Voluntary Compliance Checklist, and announced integration of SHe-Box with the Mission Shakti App. A Karmayogi Bharat PoSH training link was also introduced on the SHe-Box portal to enhance institutional awareness and capacity building.
She administered the National Workplace Safety Pledge, urging institutions and stakeholders to foster a culture of zero tolerance towards sexual harassment at the workplace.
Expanding the Safety Architecture
Secretary of the Ministry, Shri Anil Malik, highlighted that over 1.48 lakh institutions have been registered on the SHe-Box portal, with more than 60,000 Internal Committees actively functioning. Local Committees are operational in every district, establishing a nationwide grievance redressal framework.
He noted that with women’s labour force participation rising to around 42 per cent and a significant proportion of women engaged in the informal sector, continued efforts are necessary to ensure universal coverage.
Women’s Safety Linked to Viksit Bharat
In her keynote address, Smt. Annapurna Devi emphasised that workplace safety is not merely a statutory obligation under the PoSH Act but a moral and constitutional responsibility. She pointed to the historic Gender Budget allocation exceeding ₹5 lakh crore as evidence of the government’s focus on women-led development.
She stated that a developed India by 2047 must guarantee that every woman can work, lead and contribute without fear. The SHe-Box initiative, she said, enhances transparency, accountability and trust across sectors.
Broader Ecosystem of Empowerment
Minister of State Smt. Savitri Thakur underlined that workplace safety complements broader economic empowerment initiatives. She cited rising female labour force participation, 70 per cent of Mudra loans extended to women, 44 per cent of PM SVANidhi beneficiaries being women, and over 10 crore women linked to Self-Help Groups.
These indicators, she said, reflect progress but must be supported by safe working environments to ensure sustained participation.
Panel Discussion and Participation
A high-level panel discussion on strengthening compliance and creating a safe workplace culture featured representatives from government, judiciary, international organisations and industry. Experts discussed global best practices and mechanisms to improve accountability in both organised and unorganised sectors.
The conference saw participation from nearly 1,500 delegates representing more than 160 organisations, while over 40,000 viewers joined virtually through live webcast.
