Government Expands SHe-Box Portal Scope, Enables Direct Police Reporting of Harassment

The Centre has upgraded the SHe-Box portal, allowing women to report harassment in public spaces and online directly to police, ensuring faster response through integration with 17,000 police stations nationwide.

Pune | April 1, 2026: In a significant move to strengthen women’s safety and improve grievance redressal, the Government of India has upgraded the SHe-Box (Sexual Harassment electronic Box) portal, expanding its scope beyond workplaces to include incidents of harassment in public spaces and online environments.

Originally designed as a single-window platform for reporting workplace sexual harassment under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, the portal will now enable women to lodge complaints related to harassment faced during daily commutes, in public places, and on digital platforms.

The upgraded system has been integrated with approximately 17,000 police stations across the country, allowing complaints to be automatically routed to the relevant local police authority based on the location of the incident. This direct linkage is expected to significantly reduce response time and eliminate the need for victims to physically visit police stations to initiate action.

Officials indicate that the expansion addresses a critical gap in the existing framework, where harassment occurring outside workplaces—such as on roads, in public transport, or during travel—often went unreported or required separate complaint mechanisms. With the revised system, women can now report incidents occurring at bus stops, railway stations, markets, or even during their commute to work or college through a single digital interface.

The complaint process remains straightforward. Users can access the official portal, provide basic details including the nature and location of the incident, and submit their grievance online. Once filed, the complaint is automatically forwarded to the concerned police station for prompt action. Authorities have also emphasised that the identity of complainants will be kept confidential, maintaining privacy and encouraging more women to come forward.

The SHe-Box portal, launched in 2024 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, was initially developed as a centralised platform to streamline workplace harassment complaints and ensure accountability in compliance with the POSH Act. It created a national database to track cases and monitor their resolution, thereby improving transparency and enforcement.

With the latest upgrade, the portal evolves into a broader safety tool aimed at addressing everyday harassment challenges faced by women. The integration with law enforcement systems is expected to strengthen coordination between digital reporting mechanisms and on-ground policing.

In addition to the web-based platform, authorities are also working on a mobile application to further simplify access and enable quicker reporting, especially in urgent situations. This is expected to enhance usability and widen the reach of the system among women across urban and rural areas.

The development comes amid increasing concerns over online harassment and public safety. Recent data and reports have highlighted the growing prevalence of cyber harassment and related offences, underscoring the need for accessible and responsive reporting mechanisms.

Experts view the upgraded SHe-Box portal as a critical step towards bridging institutional gaps in addressing harassment beyond formal workplaces. However, they also stress that awareness, digital accessibility, and effective police response will be key to ensuring the success of the initiative.

The government’s move signals a shift towards integrated, technology-driven solutions for women’s safety, aiming to provide a more responsive and accessible system for reporting and redressal across diverse environments.

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