Prevention of Sexual harassment at workplace in India

The issues of sexual harassment at the workplace received public attention mainly after the Supreme Court’s landmark judgement in Vishakha v/s State Government case in 1997. The apex court, in its verdict, held the employers responsible for protection of women employees from sexual harassment at the workplace, and issued comprehensive guidelines (widely known as Vishakha guidelines) enjoining them to take appropriate measures to curb this pernicious practice. Costs of Sexual Harassment at Workplace Sexual harassment at the workplace does not only cause disastrous psychosocial and physical hardships to the victim, but also leads to corresponding negative impact on the performance and reputation of the organization. At broader level, it also hampers the inclusivity of the labor market and erodes the prospects of a country’s economic growth. Cost to the Victim • It discourages the victim from asserting themselves within the workplace. • The victim is objectified and hum...