Odisha government to amend law on abuse at workplace

A proposal has been given in the meeting to give additional powers to the commission, said Ms Baxipatra.

Update: 2017-10-18 22:09 GMT
Alexander Scott Wagar, 29, had been arrested for sexually assaulting a woman over a sink at a party in 2014. (Representational Image)

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is planning to amend the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Preve-ntion, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.

According to Odisha State Commission for Women chief Lopamudra Baxipatra, she has already held discussions with state law minister Pratap Jena on the matter and process for amendment would begin soon.

Speaking to this newspaper, Ms Baxipatra said there were many loopholes in the prevailing act due to which the accused, even after being proved guilty, managed to escape many a times.

“There is a need for amendments in the act to enforce it strictly. We had a discussion on how stringent action will be taken against the persons accused of sexually harassing women at workplaces,” he added.

“A proposal has been given in the meeting to give additional powers to the commission,” said Ms Baxipatra.

“We had a discussion on various acts that are being implemented for protection of women, but there is a need of strengthening the mechanism,” she added.

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