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Key Points

The Odisha Higher Education Department has issued a crucial directive to all state educational institutions to display the women's helpline number prominently on campuses. This move comes in the wake of a tragic incident involving a student's self-immolation attempt due to alleged sexual harassment. The department has mandated immediate implementation of awareness workshops and display of critical safety information. These steps aim to enhance women's safety and provide immediate support mechanisms within educational institutions.

Key Points: Odisha Mandates 181 Women Helpline Display on College Campuses

  • Higher educational institutions must display 181 helpline number prominently
  • Sensitization workshops on sexual harassment to be organized within three days
  • Teaching and non-teaching staff must participate in awareness programs
  • Institutions required to submit Internal Complaints Committee reports
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Odisha: Higher educational instts directed to display women helpline number on campus

Odisha Higher Education Department orders all universities and colleges to prominently display women's helpline number and conduct sexual harassment awareness workshops

"Mandatory and prominent display of women's helpline number at strategic campus locations - Odisha Higher Education Department"

Bhubaneswar, July 18

The Odisha Higher Education Department on Friday directed all state public and private universities, as well as government, aided, and unaided degree colleges under its jurisdiction, to take urgent steps to ensure that Women Helpline number is displayed prominently at important locations on their respective campuses.

The department through an official letter issued on Friday instructed all the higher educational institutions to ensure the mandatory and prominent display of the women's helpline number "181" at strategic locations within their campuses.

The department also shared a soft copy of the display design instructing immediate compliance of the order. This apart, the higher educational institutions have also been asked to organise sensitization workshops on of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013 and UGC Regulations, 2015.

These workshops must involve teaching and non-teaching staff, Internal Committee (IC) members, and students.

The department also directed the educational institutions to ensure that a pledge will be taken by the participants to abide by the principles enshrined in the POSH Act, 2013 and the UGC regulations during the sensitization programme.

The Universities and colleges have been asked to organise the sensitization programmes within three days of issuance of this official letter.

Notably, the Odisha Higher Education Department has a few days ago issued an urgent directive to all state public and private universities, as well as government, aided, and unaided degree colleges to submit reports regarding the constitution and functioning of the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) under Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013.

The issue of women's safety on the campus of higher educational institutions has recently taken center stage in Odisha after the tragic death of a girl student from Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore, following self-immolation attempt over alleged sexual harassment by one of the faculty members.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Displaying numbers isn't enough. Colleges must ensure ICCs actually work without bias. The Balasore case shows what happens when systems fail. Strict action against harassers is what's needed! 🔥
A
Ananya R
Good initiative but late reaction. Why wait for tragedies to act? Our education system needs proactive measures for women's safety, not just reactive ones. The workshops should be regular, not one-time events.
S
Sarah B
As an international student in Odisha, I appreciate this move. But will the helpline be available in multiple languages? Many foreign students face harassment but struggle with language barriers when reporting.
V
Vikram M
The real test will be in implementation. Many colleges just do token compliance. Government should conduct surprise checks and penalize institutions not following through properly.
K
Kavya N
They should also introduce self-defense classes as part of curriculum. Helpline is good, but prevention is better. Our girls need confidence to protect themselves in bad situations. 💪

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