A Complete Guide to the SHe-Box Portal for Workplace Harassment

On August 29, 2024, The Ministry of Women and Child Development launched the SHe-Box portal, a digital Complaint Management System for filing complaints addressing the workplace sexual harassment. The centralised platform serves as a comprehensive database for the information related to the Internal Committee (IC) and Local Committee (LC) established nationwide. It is designed to streamline the process of registering and monitoring complaints concerning sexual harassment at the workplace.?

It is important to note that each organisation will have to appoint a designated Nodal Officer who will be responsible for creating and maintaining an account for the organisation on the portal.??

About the POSH Act, 2013

The Sexual Harassment at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, was passed in 2013 to ensure that women have a safe and secure work environment free from sexual harassment. This Act applies to all women, be it working in organised or unorganised sector and establishes a redressal mechanism for addressing their complaints around sexual harassment at workplace. The Act offers extensive coverage to all women, regardless of their hierarchy and employment status in organised or unorganised, public or private sector. The Act provides a comprehensive definition of sexual harassment at workplace, involving both implied and explicit threats to woman’s employment, or creation of hostile work environment that may harm woman’s health or compromise on their safety.?

The SHe-Box portal and the Women and Child Development’s new website can be accessed at shebox.wcd.gov.in and wcd.gov.in, respectively.?

Who can file a complaint?

The platform allows women experiencing sexual harassment at work to register their complaints easily. Through the SHe-Box portal any woman can register a complaint, all they require is a valid email address and mobile number. Once the complaint is submitted on the portal, it will be forwarded to the appropriate authorities who are responsible and have the jurisdiction to take action on the complaint. Additionally, someone else can also file a complaint on behalf of the affected individual in case they are unable to do so themselves. Please note this must be explicitly indicated in the form submitted.?

How to use the Portal?

• Enter the URL https://shebox.wcd.gov.in/ in the address bar of any browser in order to access the SHe-Box portal.
• On the homepage of the portal, click on “Register your Complaint” Two options will appear, “Register Complaint” or “View Status”. Click on the first option to register your complaint.?
• Fill out the form. The form will ask for information of the Complainant and the Respondent, such as name, designation, email, etc. Ensure all mandatory details are filled, and click on “Submit”.?
• The portal also allows one to view the status of the complaint filed, by adding the login details.?

After the registration of the complaint?

After the complaint is registered on the SHe-Box portal, it will be directly forwarded to the concerned authorities, who are responsible and have the jurisdiction to act upon the matter.?

It is important to note that the SHe-Box portal does not replace the existing reporting mechanism of the organisation.? Rather, it serves as an extra avenue for the employees to raise their concerns and report any case related to the workplace sexual harassment. It further strengthens the overall system of tackling workplace sexual harassment.?

Please note that the SHe-Box portal will likely become fully operational by the end of October, with the updated information of their respective ICs and LCs.?