Gujarat logs 7 complaints on SHe-Box relating to sexual harassment at workplace since launch

Since the launch of the SHe-Box portal on August 29, 2024, by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), Gujarat has recorded just seven complaints related to workplace sexual harassment from government offices and affiliated departments or agencies.

According to the data of Ministry of Women and Child Development - six of our total 7 complaints received on SHe- Box portal from various departments of Gujarat are still pending as of February 13, 2026. 

The portal provides options for disposal of complaints in accordance with Section 12 of the SH Act and Rules 8, 9, and 10 of 'the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, 

Prohibition and Redressal) Rules, 2013' (SH Rules)

The SHe-Box portal serves as a centralised online platform to facilitate the filing, tracking, and monitoring of complaints related to sexual harassment at workplaces. It provides information on Internal Committees (ICs) and Local Committees (LCs) constituted under the Act, enabling women—across public and private sectors, organised and unorganised, including domestic workers—to report incidents securely and hassle-free. 

However, the portal is an IT aid rather than a statutory oversight mechanism; actual investigation and resolution rest with the relevant ICs or LCs, with appropriate governments responsible for monitoring compliance.

Nationally, the portal has received 79 complaints from government offices and affiliated entities across the country. Of these, 56 remain pending, while 23 have been disposed of. Karnataka leads with the highest number of 10 complaints, followed by Bihar with eight, and Gujarat and Rajasthan tied at seven each. Other states include Odisha and Himachal Pradesh with five each, Maharashtra with six, and Delhi, Chhattisgarh, and Uttar Pradesh with four each.

The SH Act mandates employers to act on IC recommendations within 60 days, potentially including disciplinary measures, compensation, or interim relief such as transfers or paid leave for the aggrieved woman. Complaints on the portal can be handled in line with Section 12 of the Act and relevant rules under the 2013 SH Rules.

To bolster implementation, the Supreme Court has issued key directives. In an order dated December 3, 2024, it instructed Chief Secretaries of all states to direct District Officers (such as District Collectors or Magistrates) to survey public and private organizations for Internal Committee constitution and ensure their details are uploaded to the SHe-Box portal. 

Follow-up orders on August 12, 2025, and January 6, 2026, reinforced this by mandating surveys with Labour Commissioners' assistance and proper onboarding of data to enhance monitoring and compliance.

The MWCD has supported access through detailed FAQs on the portal, along with helplines including the Women Helpline (181) and NALSA's free legal aid line (15100). State and District Legal Services Authorities are also mandated to provide legal support to survivors.