NCW consultation discusses digital harassment, protection for gig workers

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

New Delhi, July 18 (IANS) Issues related to sexual harassment in digital workplaces and protection for gig workers, platform workers and home-based workers figured prominently at the NCW’s two-day national programme on the POSH Act that concluded on Saturday, an official said.

The National Commission for Women’s (NCW) programme on the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act) brought together retired judges of the Delhi High Court, Additional Solicitors General of India, senior advocates and policymakers to deliberate on strengthening the implementation of the Act, said an official statement.

Chairperson of NCW Vijaya Rahatkar said that the POSH Act is not merely a legal framework but an instrument of trust that assures every working woman that her dignity, rights and aspirations will be protected.

She emphasised that the identity of a progressive society is reflected in the safety and respect it accords to its women and observed that as workplaces evolve through hybrid work models, digital communication, remote work and artificial intelligence, institutional mechanisms, workplace policies and legal responses must evolve accordingly.

Rahatkar stressed that awareness, prevention and institutional sensitivity remain the strongest pillars of workplace safety.

While debating institutional reforms under the POSH, the experts discussed improving institutional accountability, monitoring mechanisms and procedural timelines, and ensuring that the law remains responsive to the changing nature of work and workplaces, said the statement.

The participants emphasised that creating safe workplaces requires more than legal compliance. They underscored the need for continuous capacity building, stronger institutional accountability, greater awareness, robust grievance redressal mechanisms and collaborative efforts among employers, institutions and stakeholders to foster workplaces founded on dignity, equality and mutual respect.

The Commission informed that the deliberations and recommendations emerging from the National Consultation, together with the inputs received during the Regional Consultations and nationwide stakeholder engagements, will be consolidated into a comprehensive Recommendation Report for submission to the Government of India to further strengthen the implementation framework of the POSH Act and its Rules.

Earlier, while inaugurating the programme on Friday, Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annpurna Devi said that a dignified workplace is the key to women-led development.

The Minister said that every woman has the right to work with dignity and without fear, and that creating a safe work environment is a shared responsibility of governments, employers and institutions.

–IANS

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Before one chair is filled, lobbying begins in Kerala for new KPCC chief’s post

Thiruvananthapuram, May 11 (IANS) Even before the suspense over Kerala’s next Chief Minister comes to an end, the Congress party has already opened another front, this time for the powerful post of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President.

If the race for the Chief Minister’s chair has resembled a political thriller over the past week, the emerging contest for the party presidency is beginning to look like the sequel nobody in the Congress wanted to delay.

With indications growing stronger that KPCC president Sunny Joseph is likely to enter the new UDF Cabinet, the party’s organisational post is set to fall vacant.

And even before the ink dries on the Chief Ministerial announcement, aspirants have already begun positioning themselves in Delhi corridors and Kerala power centres.

At the centre of the early lobbying is veteran MP Kodikunnil Suresh, whose recent meeting with Congress President Mallikarjuna Kharge has triggered intense speculation.

Officially, it may have been described as a routine political meeting. Unofficially, few in the Congress believe anything in Delhi is ‘routine’ when a top organisational post is about to open up.

Alongside Kodikunnil, the names of Benny Behanan, Anto Antony and Shafi Parambil (all are Lok Sabha members) are also doing the rounds.

Each name comes with its own social equations, factional arithmetic and loyal support camps.

The calculations now involve not just seniority and organisational ability, but caste balance, minority representation, youth appeal and factional peacekeeping.

For the high command, the challenge is turning into a delicate balancing act.

If the Chief Minister’s post goes to one community or faction, the KPCC presidency may have to compensate another.

In Kerala Congress politics, one chair rarely travels alone, it usually drags three more chairs and half a dozen equations behind it.

Incidentally in 2001 the state capital witnessed the swearing in ceremony of A.K. Antony as the new chief minister and minutes later, the new state party president K. Muraleedharan took over by replacing veteran Congress leader Thennala Balakrishna Pillai as part of the power sharing arrangement between Antony and Karunakaran.

What is adding to the unease within the party is the growing perception that the Congress, despite returning to power, is struggling to project a sense of stability.

Workers who celebrated the UDF victory only days ago are now watching leaders sprint between Kerala House, airport lounges and Delhi drawing rooms in pursuit of the next available chair.

For now, the Congress high command faces the unenviable task of solving two puzzles at once, deciding who governs Kerala, and equally importantly, deciding who controls the party machinery after the victory drums fade.

–IANS

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Jharkhand CM holds high-level meet on law and order, directs to ensure crime-free environment

Ranchi, March 12 (IANS) In the wake of the killing of notorious gangster Aman Sahu in an encounter, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren chaired a high-level review meeting on Wednesday with senior police and administrative officials at the Secretariat to assess the state’s law and order situation.

He directed officials to take all necessary steps to ensure a crime-free environment in the state and maintain public safety.

The Chief Minister emphasised the need for peaceful celebrations during upcoming festivals, including Holi, Ramzan, Eid, Sarhul, and Ram Navami.

He instructed officials to deploy adequate security forces, monitor sensitive areas using drone surveillance, and take strict action against anti-social elements.

“The police must remain on high alert and be fully prepared to prevent any untoward incidents, communal tensions, or disputes,” Soren said.

He stressed the importance of special vigilance in areas prone to communal sensitivities and directed officials to hold regular meetings with peace committees to foster community coordination.

He also ordered the deployment of police personnel at crowded and religious places while ensuring a close watch on miscreants. “Strict action should be taken against those attempting to disturb social harmony,” he added.

The Chief Minister highlighted the need for strict monitoring of social media during festivals to curb the spread of rumours and misinformation.

The meeting also discussed measures such as the installation of CCTV cameras and electronic surveillance around religious sites, provision of adequate lighting and public announcement systems along procession routes, and the availability of anti-riot vehicles and water cannons in districts.

In the meeting, Director General of Police Anurag Gupta presented a report on the strategies being implemented for crime control and ongoing enforcement actions.

The meeting was also attended by Chief Secretary Alka Tiwari, Additional Chief Secretary Avinash Kumar, Principal Secretary, Home, Vandana Dadel, Inspector General of Police, Special Branch, Prabhat Kumar, Inspector General of Police, Operations, A.V. Homkar, Inspector General of Police, CID, Asim Vikrant Minj, Inspector General of Police, HQ, Manoj Kaushik, and other senior police officials of the state.

–IANS

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Unified Pension Scheme set to roll out from April 1, to benefit 23 lakh employees

New Delhi, March 24 (IANS) From April 1, Central government employees with at least 25 years of service will be eligible for a fixed pension equal to 50 per cent of their average basic salary from the last 12 months before retirement under the new Unified Pension Scheme (UPS).

The government is introducing the UPS to offer more financial security after retirement to at least 23 lakh Central government employees, particularly for those who prefer a stable and predictable income instead of a market-linked pension.

Employees, who have served for more than 10 years but less than 25 years, will receive a minimum pension of Rs 10,000 per month. In case of the pensioner’s death, their family will be entitled to 60 per cent of the last pension drawn as a family pension.

Central government employees, currently under the National Pension System (NPS), will have the option to switch to the UPS.

The scheme is designed as a hybrid model, incorporating features from both the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and the NPS.

Unlike the NPS, which offers market-based returns without any fixed payout, the UPS ensures a guaranteed pension amount.

The OPS, which was replaced by the NPS in 2004, provided fully government-backed pensions with periodic dearness allowance revisions.

The introduction of the UPS comes in response to growing concerns among government employees about the uncertainties of the NPS.

Several of them demanded a more predictable pension system to ensure financial stability after retirement. The government aims to balance employee security with its fiscal responsibilities through this new scheme.

This move may also influence state governments to explore similar pension models. Those with over 25 years of service will benefit the most from the 50 per cent guaranteed pension, while others should consider their financial goals and risk tolerance.

Employees seeking a steady post-retirement income may find the UPS more suitable, whereas those comfortable with market fluctuations may still prefer the NPS for potentially higher returns.

Last week, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) officially notified the operationalisation of the UPS under NPS Regulations 2025.

These regulations enable the enrolment of three categories of Central government employees. The first category covers existing Central government employees in service as on April 1, 2025, who are covered under the NPS, while the second category includes new recruits in the Central government services, who join service on or after April 1, 2025.

The third category includes Central government employees who were covered under the NPS and who have superannuated or voluntarily retired or have retired under Fundamental Rules 56(j) on or before March 31, 2025, and are eligible for the UPS or the legally wedded spouse in case of a subscriber who has superannuated or retired and has demised prior to exercising the option for the UPS.

The enrolment and claim forms for all these categories of Central government employees will be available online from April 1, 2025, on the website – https://npscra.nsdl.co.in

–IANS

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