Shimla, February 11, 2026:
The National Commission for Women (NCW) will organise a State-Level Consultation on Women’s Safety in Higher Educational Institutions in Shimla on February 12. The programme will be held from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Shimla.
The consultation will be chaired by NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar and will witness participation from senior state police officials, university vice chancellors, registrars, deans, principals, senior faculty members, Internal Committee representatives, legal experts, student leaders, and state administration officials.
According to a spokesperson of the Commission, the consultation aims to address ongoing concerns related to women’s safety in higher educational institutions. Although women’s participation in higher education has increased significantly, issues such as sexual harassment, cyber harassment, discrimination, limited awareness about grievance redressal mechanisms, and gaps in enforcement of legal safeguards continue to impact female students and staff.
The meeting will review the implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act) and assess the effectiveness of Internal Committees in universities and colleges. It will also focus on strengthening coordination between educational institutions, law enforcement agencies, and legal stakeholders.
The consultation is expected to identify gaps in institutional safety systems, promote best practices, enhance awareness about legal provisions, and develop actionable recommendations to improve campus safety and grievance redressal mechanisms.
The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to creating safe, inclusive, and harassment-free educational spaces for women across the state.
