New Delhi, May 22: The National Commission for Women (NCW) has expressed serious concerns regarding the safety of women at the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) office in Nashik and the adherence to the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act. A hearing was conducted under the chairmanship of NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar following the receipt of an investigative report.
During the hearing, senior officials from TCS participated virtually, as the commission granted their request for online attendance. The meeting also included NCW’s Additional Secretary B. Radhika Chakravarthy, members of the fact-finding committee, and other senior officials from the commission.
The commission highlighted several significant deficiencies in workplace safety and the implementation of the POSH Act at the Nashik unit. It noted that the local HR infrastructure and grievance redressal mechanisms were insufficient. Furthermore, there was no separate internal committee established for the Nashik office.
The NCW found that there were inadequate arrangements for filing POSH complaints. Additionally, the CCTV system was not functioning properly, raising questions about supervisory accountability. The commission also objected to the formation of a single joint internal committee for both the Pune and Nashik units, emphasizing that separate committees are necessary for different units as per the POSH Act.
The commission questioned TCS about why no senior official visited the Nashik center to speak directly with employees despite the serious issues raised during the investigation.
While the commission acknowledged the Tata Group’s contributions to the country’s development, it emphasized that as a reputable corporate entity, the group is expected to comply with the POSH Act with utmost seriousness and responsibility.
NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar has instructed TCS to take immediate corrective actions. The commission mandated that TCS establish separate internal committees at all 127 units where ten or more employees work within four weeks. Additionally, comprehensive POSH training programs should be implemented, and annual POSH reports must be submitted to the relevant authorities.
The commission also directed that the next review meeting, scheduled for four weeks later, ensure the physical presence of the concerned officials.
During the hearing, the commission reiterated that any organization must approach POSH victims with sensitivity, empathy, and a humane perspective. The NCW clarified that criminal cases will proceed under the law, but its primary objective remains to create safe workplaces for women and ensure effective compliance with the POSH Act.
Leave a Comment