In a decisive step towards fostering safer campuses across Odisha, the state's Higher Education Department has issued a stringent directive mandating the establishment of Internal Committees in every higher educational institution. This move underscores a renewed commitment to the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013—commonly known as the POSH Act—which requires workplaces, including universities and colleges, with ten or more employees to form these committees for addressing complaints of sexual harassment effectively.

The directive, dated April 16, 2026, comes amid growing concerns over campus safety, particularly for female students and staff. It applies universally to state public and private universities, degree colleges, and teacher education institutions, emphasizing not just formation but functionality of these panels. Institutions must now prioritize creating environments where grievances are handled promptly, confidentially, and justly, reflecting broader national efforts to align higher education with gender-sensitive governance.

The Catalyst: Tragic Incidents Spotlighting Gaps

The urgency of this mandate was catalyzed by heartbreaking incidents that exposed systemic lapses. In July 2025, a 20-year-old Integrated B.Ed student at Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore, Odisha, resorted to self-immolation after her sexual harassment allegation against a department head was reportedly dismissed by the college's Internal Complaints Committee. Soumyashree Bisi's death ignited statewide outrage, prompting investigations that revealed the absence of a properly constituted committee at the time of her initial complaint in June 2025.

A University Grants Commission panel later flagged serious negligence, including delays in response and procedural shortcomings. This tragedy echoed earlier reports: in 2024 alone, 19 sexual harassment cases surfaced in government colleges and universities across Odisha. Female students from eight colleges had also reported instances of harassment, exploitation, and ragging, highlighting underreporting and inadequate redressal mechanisms. These events have shifted the narrative from compliance as a formality to a vital safeguard for student well-being.

Key Provisions of the April 2026 Directive

The Higher Education Department's order outlines comprehensive requirements beyond mere committee formation. Institutions must ensure their Internal Committees—often abbreviated as ICs or ICCs—are operational, with members trained in POSH protocols. Annual reports detailing complaints received, inquiries conducted, and resolutions must be submitted to Local Complaints Committees (LCCs), with copies forwarded to Regional Directors of Education (RDEs).

Additionally, campuses are directed to implement holistic safety enhancements: well-lit pathways and common areas, CCTV surveillance in public spaces (respecting privacy norms), elimination of dark or isolated spots, deployment of sufficient security personnel, strict visitor logging, secure and hygienic women's facilities including hostels, accessible complaint boxes, 24/7 emergency response systems, and prominent display of IC details, procedures, and helplines on notice boards and websites. Compliance affidavits must reach the department promptly, verified by RDEs for 100% adherence.

Composition and Role of Internal Committees

Under Section 4 of the POSH Act, each IC must be presided over by a senior-level woman employee, include at least two other employees committed to women's causes, and one external member from an NGO or similar body familiar with harassment issues. The committee's primary functions encompass receiving complaints within three months of the incident (extendable to a year if explained), conducting fair inquiries with both parties' participation, recommending actions like transfers or warnings, and facilitating conciliation if requested.

In Odisha's higher education context, these panels serve as first responders on sprawling campuses housing thousands of students. Step-by-step processes include preliminary assessment within 90 days, evidence collection, hearings, and interim relief like paid leave for complainants. Decisions carry weight, with appeals possible to higher authorities or courts, ensuring accountability without parallel fact-finding bodies, as recently affirmed by the Delhi High Court deeming the POSH Act a complete code.

Enforcement Mechanisms and Penalties

Non-compliance invites severe repercussions tailored to deter laxity. Colleges affiliated with the Student Academic Management System (SAMS) risk admission bans, crippling enrollment. Universities face withheld examination permissions, halting academic calendars. Further, the government has warned of derecognition and, as seen in Cuttack district, withholding staff salaries until rectification—a measure invoked post the Balasore case affecting nearly 100 institutions.

These penalties build on prior notices from September 2024 and July-August 2025, signaling escalation. RDEs bear monitoring responsibility, with the department poised for audits. For context, the POSH Act itself imposes fines up to ₹50,000 and potential twice that for repeat offenses, alongside imprisonment risks for contravening inquiry confidentiality.

Challenges in Achieving Full Compliance

Despite mandates, hurdles persist. Many Odisha institutions historically treated IC formation as perfunctory, lacking trained members or sensitization. Underreporting remains rampant due to stigma, power imbalances between faculty and students, and fear of reprisal. Data from UGC reveals low case filings—Central University of Odisha reported minimal activity from 2022-2023—possibly masking realities.

Resource constraints in rural colleges, resistance to external members, and overburdened staff compound issues. Nationally, higher education faces similar pitfalls: untrained ICCs leading to biased probes, as in the Odisha tragedy where no transfer was recommended despite allegations. Cultural factors in eastern India, including Odisha's tribal demographics, necessitate tailored awareness.

To counter these, solutions include mandatory annual training via UGC's online modules, NGO partnerships for external expertise, integrating POSH into NIRF rankings for safety metrics, and anonymous reporting apps. Proactive audits and student-led vigilance committees can bridge gaps.

Safety Protocols: Beyond Committees

The directive holistically addresses prevention. Campuses must audit vulnerabilities: replacing dim bulbs, installing motion-sensor lights, strategic CCTV (e.g., entrances, libraries, excluding restrooms), and buddy systems for late-night access. Security guards trained in gender sensitivity, biometric visitor entry, and women-only shuttle services enhance vigilance.

Hostel protocols demand 24-hour wardens, CCTV-monitored gates, and grievance cells. Hygiene-focused amenities like sanitary pad vending and clean restrooms reduce indirect discomforts. Digital tools—POSH apps, QR-code helplines—empower users. Regular mock drills for emergencies ensure readiness, transforming campuses into fortresses of equity.

Training and Sensitization Initiatives

Effective ICs hinge on capacity building. The department urges workshops, leveraging UGC's POSH e-learning and state platforms. Odisha universities like Sambalpur and Utkal have hosted sessions, covering inquiry techniques, bias mitigation, and legal nuances. Faculty oaths, orientation for freshers, and poster campaigns demystify processes.

External experts from NGOs like Niratanka emphasize role-plays simulating complaints. Annual refreshers prevent obsolescence, with metrics tracking participation. Integrating POSH into curricula—ethics courses, gender studies—fosters cultural shifts, preparing future leaders.

Stakeholder Perspectives and Impacts

Students welcome the push, viewing it as empowerment amid rising enrollment (Odisha's +3 colleges exceed 1,000). Faculty unions stress fair processes to avoid misuse, advocating balanced training. Administrators face implementation pressures but recognize long-term benefits: safer reputations boost admissions.

Early impacts include compliance drives; post-directive, dozens of colleges notified IC formations. Reduced incidents could elevate NIRF scores, attracting funds. For women—constituting ~45% of enrollees—this means bolder pursuit of studies, vital for Odisha's GER target of 33% by 2026.

National Parallels and Best Practices

Odisha aligns with UGC's 2015 regulations and national POSH enforcement. Kerala and Tamil Nadu lead with digitized reporting; IITs exemplify robust ICs with external audits. Lessons include AI-assisted anonymity tools and intersectional training addressing caste-gender overlaps.

Supreme Court precedents reinforce timelines; recent Delhi HC rulings ban parallel probes. Odisha can adopt hybrid models: ICs plus LCCs for oversight, ensuring transparency via public dashboards (anonymized).

Photo by Oyemike Princewill on Unsplash

Future Outlook: A Safer Academic Horizon

With RDE monitoring and departmental oversight, full compliance seems imminent by mid-2026. Integrating POSH into NEP 2020's equity goals positions Odisha as a model. Sustained funding for training, tech upgrades, and evaluations will sustain momentum.

Stakeholders must collaborate: institutions invest in culture, students engage vigilantly, government enforces justly. Ultimately, functional ICs promise campuses where intellect thrives sans fear, advancing Odisha's higher education vision.

For resources on careers in safer academic environments, explore opportunities via higher education jobs.