On 23rd October 2024, the Tamil Nadu Urban Sanitation Support Programme (TNUSSP), in collaboration with CREA, organised a training on the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) for the Internal Committee (IC) members of 18 municipalities in the Chengalpattu region. The event took place at Maraimalai Nagar and witnessed the participation of 47 members, who were trained by Vidya Bala, a certified PoSH trainer and advocate.

The training aimed to strengthen the capacity of IC members by enhancing their understanding of gender, intersectionality, and the key provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. The session began with an engaging power walk exercise to explore gender dynamics and intersectionality. Participants were introduced to various acts that constitute sexual harassment, helping them differentiate between actionable offences and other forms of inappropriate behaviour.

Vidya Bala also covered the legal framework surrounding sexual harassment, including related provisions from other laws such as the SC/ST Atrocities Act, to give participants a broader perspective on addressing such violations.

One of the core aspects of the training focused on the roles and responsibilities of IC members, the structure of the committee, and the process for conducting enquiries into reported cases. Through group exercises and case studies, participants practised analysing real-life scenarios and deliberated on appropriate responses, helping them grasp the procedural nuances of handling complaints.

A notable outcome of the session was the realisation by several participants that their municipalities had not constituted the IC as per the prescribed norms, particularly the absence of external members. Many shared that this training was their first introduction to the IC’s powers and responsibilities under the PoSH Act.

Encouraged by the learnings, the participants expressed their commitment to ensuring compliance. Immediate steps would be taken to publicly display the names of IC members in their respective municipalities and disseminate information on how to report cases of sexual harassment. Additionally, posters outlining key actionable offences under the PoSH Act will be displayed to create awareness among employees.

The training successfully empowered the IC members with the knowledge and tools necessary to foster a safer and more inclusive workplace across the municipalities in the Chengalpattu region.