What duties under the sexual harassment law does SIDBI expect a green loan borrower to follow?
SIDBI has adopted the 2013 Act on sexual harassment of women at the workplace and says its lending partners and the MSMEs it funds must follow the arrangements the Act requires, with proper reporting. The Act covers almost every workplace and asks employers for a safe workplace and an internal committee.
What the Act asks of an employer
- Provide a safe working environment.
- Display, at a visible place, the penal consequences of sexual harassment and the order that forms the internal committee.
- Run awareness workshops at regular intervals.
- Give the internal committee the facilities it needs for an inquiry.
- Help secure the attendance of the respondent and witnesses, and make information available to the committee.
- Help a woman who chooses to file a complaint.
- Start action under the Penal Code or other law if the woman wishes it, and treat harassment as misconduct under service rules.
- Monitor that the internal committee reports on time.
How wide the Act reaches
The workplace definition covers all types of organisation, including hospitals, sports institutes, places a worker visits in the course of work, a dwelling place and the unorganised sector. The Act also provides for local complaints committees and sets penalties for not complying.
How it connects to the loan
SIDBI's management system says it will ensure its partner lenders and the MSMEs follow these arrangements and report them as the programme requires. SIDBI states a zero tolerance of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.
Before you apply
- Check that your internal committee order is current and displayed.
- Keep records of awareness sessions held.
- Make sure workers know the grievance route.
What Senseible does here
Senseible's green loan check shows how ready your bills and records are for a green loan, and its finance application tool helps you put them in order. It does not approve loans or speak for SIDBI.
Sources: SIDBI, Environmental and Social Management System for the FMAP programme (ESMS)
Last reviewed 2026-11-04.