Phulbani ,24th July 2025: Incidents of misconduct and sexual harassment targeting women in workplaces and educational institutions across Kandhamal district are reportedly on the rise. In response, the Kandhamal police, under the directive of SP Harish Bishoyi, have launched a special awareness campaign to tackle the issue.
The initiative is being led by Additional SP Bibhuti Bhushan Mahapatra, who, along with his team, has visited institutions such as the Government Autonomous College, Polytechnic College, and Pokana Village School, among others.
During these sessions, students—especially young girls—were made aware of:
- Women’s safety protocols
- How to protect themselves in threatening situations
- Relevant legal provisions, including POSCO Act, POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment at Workplace), ICC (Internal Complaints Committee), and Cyber Crime laws
- The sessions aimed not just at education but also at boosting the confidence and morale of young women.
- Key officers present during the program included:
- Additional SP Bibhuti Bhushan Mahapatra
- SDPO Subhrajeet Biswal
- Sadar Thana Inspector Geli Sahu
- Inspector Deepika Ray
- Sub-Inspector Ritanjali Sahu
These officers worked together to spread awareness and empower female students and employees to stand against harassment and report it confidently.
Such campaigns are being appreciated for their proactive approach toward ensuring women’s safety and building a secure learning environment across Kandhamal.