SHILLONG: Taking a cue from the Raj Bhavan scandal, the State Government is taking steps to ensure that there is no harassment of any sorts to its staff at the Secretariat as well as other offices.
Chief Secretary K.S Kropha said an independent inquiry will be ordered to address the harassment of a lady employee who was asked to stay at the residence of the director of the Soil and Water Conservation Department.
The 25-year-old orderly peon had alleged harassment by director D. Langstieh, who withheld her salary for six months and transferred her to Byrnihat after she refused to stay in his quarter at night.
A departmental inquiry has already been instituted into the matter.
However, speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Kropha said fair and independent probe will be conducted into the matter.
“We will look into the matter to ascertain the circumstances and the much-needed action will be taken,” Kropha said.
Replying to a query on protection of employees, the chief secretary said the government was committed to following the Supreme Court guidelines in this regard.
“We need to strengthen the existing mechanism and also the working of the internal complaints committees to appropriately deal with the cases of harassment at work places,” he said.
The chief secretary said every employee is bound to follow the code of conduct and the government will work towards ensuring proper conduct by officers.
The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, came into force on December 9, 2013, to ensure protection against sexual harassment of women at workplaces.
The Act also stipulates prevention of sexual harassment and redressal of complaints and employers are duty-bound to institute internal complaints committee in offices having more than ten employees.
The formation of district and block level complaints committees is also one of the requirements.
