SHe-Box

SHe-Box Introduction

What is SHe-Box?

SHe-Box stands for Sexual Harassment electronic Box. It is an online complaint management portal created by the Government of India for complaints relating to sexual harassment of women at the workplace.

The portal is managed by the Ministry of Women and Child Development and is connected to the implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, commonly known as the POSH Act.

In simple terms, SHe-Box gives women an official online platform to file workplace sexual harassment complaints. Once a complaint is submitted, it is forwarded to the authority that has jurisdiction to act on it. The official portal describes SHe-Box as a single-window platform available to every woman, whether she works in the organised or unorganised sector, and whether her workplace is public or private.

Official portal: https://shebox.wcd.gov.in/

POSH Act Updates 2026: SHe-Box & Key Changes

Organised by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the conference brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and compliance professionals to discuss how workplace safety laws, particularly under the POSH Act, are evolving in practice.

Who can use SHe-Box?

SHe-Box can be used by any woman who has faced sexual harassment connected to a workplace or work-related setting.

It is not limited to permanent employees. It can be used by women working in different roles and sectors, including:

• Employees
• Interns
• Trainees
• Consultants
• Contractual workers
• Visitors
• Domestic workers
• Women in organised and unorganised sectors
• Women working in government offices, private companies, institutions, and informal workplaces

The incident may take place inside an office, during a work meeting, at a work event, during official travel, at a client location, in a household where domestic work is performed, or through work-related digital communication.

What complaints can be filed?

SHe-Box is specifically for complaints of sexual harassment at the workplace.

Sexual harassment may include:

• Unwelcome physical contact or advances
• Demand or request for sexual favours
• Sexually coloured remarks
• Showing pornography
• Unwelcome sexual messages or images
• Repeated sexual jokes or comments
• Inappropriate comments about someone’s body
• Pressure for personal meetings
• Sexual suggestions linked to work benefits or threats
• Any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that creates a hostile, intimidating, humiliating, or uncomfortable work environment

The key point is that the conduct must be unwelcome and connected to the workplace.

Filing a POSH Complaint on SHe-Box

How does the POSH complaint process work?

The complaint process begins when the aggrieved woman, or someone authorised to act on her behalf, submits a POSH complaint on the SHe-Box portal.

After submission, the complaint is forwarded to the appropriate authority. If the workplace has an Internal Committee, the complaint is routed to that committee. If the matter falls under the jurisdiction of a Local Committee, it is routed there.

The Ministry has described the portal as enabling online complaint filing, automatic forwarding to the concerned Internal Committee or Local Committee, and real-time tracking.

Can someone file a complaint on behalf of the woman?

Yes. A complaint may be filed by the aggrieved woman herself or by another person on her behalf.

This can help where the woman needs assistance, is unable to file the complaint herself, or wants support from someone she trusts. When another person files the complaint, the portal may ask for details of that person, their relationship with the complainant, and confirmation that the complaint is being filed with the complainant’s knowledge or authority.

What details may be needed while filing a complaint?

The portal may ask for details such as:

• Complainant’s name and contact details
• Work status
• Workplace or organisation details
• Details of the respondent
• Date, place, and description of the incident
• Nature of harassment
• Supporting material, if available
• Witness details, if any

It is useful to keep relevant material ready, such as emails, messages, screenshots, recordings, documents, or names of witnesses. Even if every detail is not available, the complainant should describe the incident clearly and truthfully.

Is confidentiality maintained?

Yes. Confidentiality is an important part of the POSH process.

Complaint details are not meant to be publicly visible. They are shared with the authority responsible for handling the matter. This helps protect the identity, dignity, and privacy of the complainant while ensuring that the complaint reaches the correct forum.

The official government communication describes the portal as a secure and confidential platform for workplace sexual harassment complaints.

Can the complaint be tracked?

Yes. One of the important features of SHe-Box is that the complainant can track the status of her complaint.

This means the complainant can see whether the complaint has been submitted, forwarded, or is pending with the concerned authority. This improves transparency and reduces the risk of complaints remaining unnoticed or unattended.

What happens after the complaint reaches the committee?

Once the complaint reaches the relevant Internal Committee or Local Committee, the committee is expected to handle it according to the POSH Act process.

The committee may:

• Review the complaint
• Contact the complainant
• Seek further details
• Notify the respondent
• Conduct hearings
• Examine documents and evidence
• Speak to witnesses
• Assess the material placed before it
• Submit findings and recommendations

The process must follow principles of fairness. The complainant must be heard, and the respondent must also get an opportunity to respond.

Organisation Registration on SHe-Box

How can an organisation register on SHe-Box?

A practical registration flow is usually as follows:

• Visit the official SHe-Box portal.
• Select the relevant registration option, such as Private Head Office Registration
• Choose the appropriate organisation category.
• Enter organisation details, including name, address, state, district, and contact details.
• Enter head office or workplace details, as applicable.
• Enter Internal Committee details, where required.
• Add details of the authorised nodal officer.
• Submit the registration request.
• Wait for verification or approval by the concerned authority.
• After approval, login credentials may be sent to the registered email ID.

The private head office registration manual states that once registration is submitted, it is forwarded to the concerned District Nodal Officer for verification, and if approved, login credentials are sent to the registered email address of the private head office nodal officer.

SHe-Box registration video tutorials

Watch eLearnPOSH’s step-by-step video series on registering your organisation on the SHe-Box portal.

What details should an organisation keep ready before registration on SHe-Box portal?

Before registering on SHe-Box, an organisation should keep the following information ready:

• Legal name of the organisation
• Head office address
• Workplace or branch details, if applicable
• State and district details
• Official email ID and phone number
• Name and designation of the head of office or authorised signatory
• Details of the Internal Committee
• Name and contact details of the Presiding Officer
• Names and details of IC members
• Name, designation, mobile number, and email ID of the SHe-Box nodal officer
• Number of employees, if requested
• Date of constitution of the Internal Committee, if requested

The organisation may be required to upload relevant/supporting documents on the SHe-Box portal, such as company registration details, GST details, PAN details, address proof, or any authorisation/official document required by the portal or the concerned District/State authority for verification.

Organisations should ensure that the details entered are accurate and kept updated.

Who is a nodal officer for SHe-Box?

The official private head office user manual describes the nodal officer as the authorised person responsible for ensuring compliance with the POSH Act and monitoring the SHe-Box portal.

For an organisation, the nodal officer may be someone such as an HR manager, compliance officer, legal officer, senior administrator, or another authorised person who can monitor complaints and coordinate with the Internal Committee or relevant authorities.

What are the responsibilities of the organisation’s nodal officer according to SHe-Box or MWCD Guidelines?

The organisation’s nodal officer should:

• Monitor the SHe-Box portal regularly
• Ensure organisation and IC details are correctly registered
• Update details when there is any change in IC composition, office address, or contact information
• Coordinate with the Internal Committee when a complaint is received
• Ensure that complaints are not ignored or delayed
• Help maintain confidentiality
• Assist with compliance documentation
• Coordinate with district or government authorities, if required
• Ensure timely response to portal communications
• Support awareness about SHe-Box within the organisation

The nodal officer should not replace the Internal Committee. The IC remains responsible for conducting the POSH inquiry. The nodal officer’s role is mainly coordination, monitoring, compliance, and communication.

Is SHe-Box registration mandatory for organisations?

Under the POSH Act, every employer with 10 or more employees is required to constitute an Internal Committee. The SHe-Box portal supports this compliance framework by maintaining details of Internal Committees, Local Committees, nodal officers, and complaint routing.

At the central level, SHe-Box is designed to function as a national repository of Internal Committees and Local Committees across government and private sector workplaces. Therefore, organisations covered by the POSH Act are generally advised to register their workplace, Internal Committee, and nodal officer details on the SHe-Box portal.

Some States and Union Territories have also issued specific directions or created State-level mechanisms requiring organisations to register their IC details. Based on publicly available information, the following jurisdictions have issued clear directions or have a specific registration mechanism:

For other States and Union Territories, even where a specific local mandate is not clearly available, registration on SHe-Box should be treated as a recommended POSH compliance practice. It helps ensure that complaints are routed to the correct Internal Committee or Local Committee and supports regulatory monitoring.

Therefore, as a general compliance approach, organisations covered by the POSH Act should register themselves and keep their Internal Committee and nodal officer details updated on the relevant portal, the central SHe-Box portal, or where applicable, a State-specific portal.

What is the role of employers in SHe-Box?

Employers have responsibilities both under the POSH Act and in relation to SHe-Box.

Employers should:

• Constitute an Internal Committee wherever required
• Ensure the IC is properly composed under the POSH Act
• Display information about the complaint mechanism
• Conduct POSH awareness and training programmes
• Assist in timely handling of complaints
• Register the organisation and IC details on SHe-Box
• Keep organisation, workplace, and nodal officer details updated
• Cooperate with authorities when a complaint is routed through the portal

This is important because accurate organisation and IC details help complaints reach the correct authority quickly.