Odisha Govt Directs Colleges, Universities to Prominently Display Women’s Helpline Number on Campuses

Bhubaneswar: Amid mounting public outrage over the death of a college student in Balasore, the Odisha government has directed all universities and colleges to prominently display the women’s helpline number, 181, at strategic locations across their campuses to ensure swift access to help for female students and staff.

The Higher Education Department has issued instructions to registrars of all public and private universities and principals of government, aided and unaided colleges to implement the order without delay. Institutions have also been given a prescribed design for the display board to maintain uniformity.

This move comes in the backdrop of the alleged mental and sexual harassment case involving a 20-year-old B.Ed student at FM Autonomous College, Balasore, who attempted self-immolation on July 12. She succumbed to her injuries two days later at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar. The student had reportedly complained about harassment by the head of the Education department, but her grievances were allegedly ignored by both the college and the police.

In response to the incident, the state government has also asked institutions to conduct mandatory sensitisation workshops on the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 and UGC Regulations, 2015, within three days. Teaching and non-teaching staff, Internal Committee members and students are to participate and take a pledge to uphold the principles of the law.