The University Grants Commission (UGC) has directed all universities and higher education institutions (HEIs) to strengthen compliance with the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act (POSH Act). This directive mandates active participation in the National Commission for Women’s (NCW) Campus Calling Programme (CCP). Institutions must submit status reports on POSH implementation through the UGC SAKSHAM portal to ensure women’s safety on campus.
UGC Mandates POSH Compliance and Reporting
The UGC requires all HEIs to implement established guidelines for preventing sexual harassment. Heads of all departments must submit status reports detailing POSH implementation efforts. These reports are due on the UGC SAKSHAM portal .
Institutions must include specific information in their submissions. This includes details of their Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs), conducted sensitisation efforts, existing complaint redressal mechanisms, and any challenges encountered during implementation.
About the Campus Calling Programme
The Campus Calling Programme is a nationwide initiative launched by the NCW in collaboration with Yuvamanthan. Its primary goal is to ensure comprehensive compliance with the POSH Act across all HEIs in India.
The NCW plans to organize approximately 800 programmes across the country under this initiative. These programmes focus on enhancing training, awareness campaigns, legal literacy, digital safety measures, and leadership development among students and staff.
Campus Ambassadors to Lead Initiatives
Each participating institution must nominate four campus ambassadors. These ambassadors will serve as key leaders for gender equality initiatives within their respective campuses.
Ambassadors will coordinate peer-led activities. Their responsibilities include organizing awareness drives and conducting counselling sessions related to gender sensitivity and safety.
How Institutions Participate in CCP
Institutions must follow specific steps to participate actively in the Campus Calling Programme. The NCW and Yuvamanthan have outlined a clear process for engagement and reporting.
| Step | Action Required |
|---|---|
| Registration and Nomination | Visit www.yuvamanthan.org/NCW to register the institution and nominate four campus ambassadors. |
| Activity Facilitation | Facilitate student participation in all scheduled training sessions and program activities. |
| Coordination with ICC | Coordinate with the institution’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) to align CCP activities with ongoing gender sensitization work. |
| Survey Participation | Ensure student and staff participation in surveys related to the program. |
| Activity Reporting | Submit comprehensive activity reports to NCW/Yuvamanthan as required. |
Key Activities and Program Objectives
The Campus Calling Programme includes multiple engagement activities to foster a safe campus culture. Students can participate in online certification courses covering gender sensitivity, equality, and POSH guidelines. These courses provide foundational knowledge on prevention and redressal mechanisms.
Interactive learning experiences are central to the CCP. These activities feature Model United Nations sessions, youth parliaments, and hackathons focused on gender-related issues. Quizzes and specialized workshops, led by legal professionals and gender rights advocates, will also be conducted. These sessions provide practical insights and legal literacy.
The program sets clear implementation guidelines for HEIs. Institutions must ensure full compliance with the POSH Act at their level and strengthen gender sensitization regulations. A key objective is to encourage student-led initiatives, promoting a campus culture of respect and safety.
CCP aims to boost digital safety awareness, mental health support, and cybersecurity knowledge. It also focuses on improving legal literacy among students regarding their rights and protection against harassment. Institutions must conduct a national survey and implement specific plans to identify and address areas needing improvement.