An awareness programme on the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) at the Workplace was successfully conducted at ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (ICAR-CRIDA), Hyderabad, on March 3, 2026. The programme was organized with the objective of promoting awareness on workplace safety, gender sensitivity, and women’s rights.
Dr. P. Lavanya Naik Jadav, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Women Safety Wing, Hyderabad, graced the programme as the Chief Guest and delivered an insightful and impactful address to the gathering. In her keynote speech, she emphasized the critical importance of creating safe, respectful, and inclusive workplaces through continuous awareness, preventive measures, and a strong support system for employees. Drawing from her extensive professional experience, she shared practical examples and real-life case studies to help participants better understand different forms of workplace harassment, the psychological impact on victims, and the legal mechanisms available for protection and redressal.
She encouraged employees to overcome hesitation or fear while reporting incidents and stressed that awareness of rights and institutional procedures plays a vital role in prevention. She also underscored the collective responsibility of both individuals and organizations in fostering a culture of mutual respect, gender sensitivity, and zero tolerance toward harassment.
On this occasion, Dr. Lavanya formally released the POSH awareness posters developed by the institute, aimed at strengthening sensitization initiatives and promoting widespread understanding of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) guidelines among staff members
Ms. Supriya Kakarla, Lead Consultant, HCSC, delivered an insightful lecture explaining the key provisions of the POSH Act and emphasized the importance of fostering a safe, respectful, and inclusive work environment. She highlighted the roles and responsibilities of employees and institutions in preventing workplace harassment.
Dr. V.K. Singh, Director of ICAR-CRIDA expressed his thought on institute’s commitment to maintaining a safe and inclusive workplace for all employees.He suggested the staff to know the POSH act rules and make better and more effective work environment.
The programme witnessed enthusiastic participation from staff members and concluded with an interactive session, encouraging open discussion and clarification of queries related to the POSH.
The programme was organized by Internal Committee (IC) Members Dr. K. Nagashree, Chairperson, IC, Dr. Priya Gurav, Member Secretary, IC, and other committee members are Dr. P. K. Pankaj, Dr. V. Visha Kumari and Shri. V. Sanu. The Programme was concluded with vote of Thanks by Shri. V. Sanu.
