Answer

Introduction

Despite progressive legislation like the POSH Act, 2013, institutional failure, societal apathy, and lack of accountability continue to render workplaces and educational campuses unsafe for women. As NCRB Report (2022) highlights, a total of over 4.45 lakh cases of ‘crimes against women’ were registered, showing an increase of 4% over 2021. 

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Institutional Challenges of the Act

• Non-functional or Absent ICCs: The POSH Act mandates Internal Complaint Committees (ICCs), yet many institutions have not constituted them or they exist only on paper.
  Eg: Odisha directed colleges to set up ICCs within 24 hours only after the death of the B.Ed student who faced repeated harassment.
• Lack of Accountability Among Authorities: Authorities often ignore or trivialize complaints, failing to act swiftly and responsibly.
• Breakdown in Law and Order Mechanisms: Even in metro cities, crimes are committed in ‘safe’ spaces, exposing law enforcement inefficiency.
• Underreporting and Fear of Retaliation: Victims often fear social stigma or retaliation from accused in positions of power.
• Recurring Nature of Campus Crimes: Campus violence is not isolated; it is recurring and often systemic, with institutional silence aiding impunity.
  Eg: The gang rape of a law student in Bengal followed the earlier murder of a post-graduate student in the same region.
• Limited Gender Sensitization and Awareness: Lack of training among faculty and staff on gender norms and POSH regulations sustains a culture of silence.
  Eg: As per NCRB 2022, Majority of crimes against women were registered under ‘cruelty by husband/relatives’ (31.4%), ‘assault with intent to outrage her modesty’ (18.7%), and ‘rape’ (7.1%).
• Lack of Timely Justice: Delayed or failed justice discredits legal mechanisms and discourages victims from seeking help.
  

Measures to Ensure Safer Spaces for Women

• Mandatory Audit of ICCs and Public Disclosure: Ensure regular third-party audits of ICCs and publish compliance status publicly.
• Grievance Redressal Cells Beyond ICC: Introduce multi-tier grievance mechanisms with external oversight and student representation.
• Curricular Inclusion of Gender Rights and Law: Introduce awareness about legal rights, consent, and respectful behavior in school and college curricula.
• Time-bound Fast-Track Redress Mechanisms: Set fixed timelines and legal backing for processing complaints to avoid delay and denial.
  Eg: Nirbhaya Fund under GoI aims to expedite justice and support women survivors of violence.
• Fast-Track Courts for Campus and Workplace Crimes: Establish dedicated legal mechanisms for quick resolution of such cases.
• Digital & Anonymous Reporting Platforms: Launch secure and anonymous online tools to report harassment, especially on campuses.
  Eg: SHe-Box (GoI) allows women to file complaints online regarding workplace harassment.
• Zero-Tolerance Policies with Consequences for Inaction: Fix responsibility on institutional heads for inaction and enforce punitive action against them.

Conclusion

The persistence of violence in so-called ‘safe spaces’ is a damning indictment of weak institutional mechanisms. While the POSH Act provides a legal framework, implementation gaps, poor redressal systems, and lack of accountability remain serious barriers. Strengthening institutional structures, improving gender sensitization, and enforcing strict accountability are essential to ensure safer spaces for women in India’s academic and professional environments.

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