NCW to Hold State-Level Consultation on Women’s Safety in Higher Educational Institutions in Shimla

The National Commission for Women will hold a state-level consultation on women’s safety in higher educational institutions in Shimla on February 12. The programme is scheduled from 1 pm to 3 pm at Bachat Bhawan in the Deputy Commissioner’s Office.

The consultation will be chaired by NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar. Senior state police officials, vice chancellors, registrars and deans of universities, principals and professors, members of Internal Committees, legal experts, student representatives, officials of the Commission and members of the state administration are expected to take part.

According to an official release, the meeting will focus on the challenges women face on campuses and review the effectiveness of existing institutional mechanisms. It aims to strengthen coordination among educational institutions, law enforcement agencies and legal stakeholders to ensure a safer academic environment.

While women’s access to higher education has expanded in recent years, concerns related to safety, dignity and harassment-free campuses remain. The release highlighted issues such as sexual harassment, cyber harassment, discrimination, limited awareness of grievance redressal systems and gaps in implementing legal safeguards.

The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 mandates the formation of Internal Committees in institutions and requires employers to provide a safe working and learning environment. However, the Commission noted that implementation and awareness levels vary across institutions.

The consultation will assess the status of safety measures in universities and colleges, review the functioning of Internal Committees and explore preventive strategies and best practices. It also seeks to generate practical recommendations for improving institutional response systems.

Expected outcomes include greater awareness of legal responsibilities, identification of gaps in campus safety and grievance redressal mechanisms, improved coordination between agencies and actionable suggestions for policy and administrative reforms.

The Commission said the initiative reflects its commitment to creating safe, inclusive and equitable educational spaces for women. (ANI)