Gadag
Civil Judge and Member Secretary C.S. Shivanagowda has called for building a society free from gender discrimination and dowry practices. He said that creating a respectful and equal environment in workplaces is essential for social harmony.
He was speaking after inaugurating a one-day training workshop on the Prevention of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013, organized jointly by the district administration, Zilla Panchayat, District Legal Services Authority, and Women and Child Development Department at the Zilla Panchayat Hall in Gadag on Thursday.
Shivanagowda said that women must feel safe and confident in workplaces, and staff should maintain polite and respectful behaviour. He warned that harassment, including offering promotions or favors in exchange for unethical demands, is a serious offense under the law. He also said women should not fear reporting wrongdoing, and protection mechanisms exist at taluk and village levels to address complaints.
He cautioned against false complaints made due to personal reasons or revenge, stating that legal action can also be taken if allegations are proven false. He emphasized that office discipline should not be misinterpreted and that instructions from senior officers must be followed in a professional manner.
Highlighting the issue of dowry, he said both giving and receiving dowry are punishable offences. He stressed that the practice still exists in society and must be completely eliminated through awareness and collective effort. He urged officials who interact with the public to spread awareness about the legal consequences of dowry.
Zilla Panchayat Deputy Secretary C.R. Mundaragi said that local and district level committees must actively work to prevent gender discrimination and exploitation of women. He also expressed concern about increasing crimes against adolescents and said that strong awareness is needed to protect children from exploitation during their sensitive age.
Officials noted that internal and local committees play a key role in preventing workplace harassment. A target has been set to form 839 committees in the district, of which 731 have already been established, and remaining ones will be formed soon.
The programme was attended by legal officers, police officials, women and child development staff, and representatives from various departments, who emphasized the importance of awareness, legal action, and social responsibility in building a safe and equal society.
