Money is the biggest motivation but along with that care, respect, a sense of gratitude and feel of partnership are certain things that have no comparison. All these feelings were flowing at the Orient Craft’s Noida factory when thousands of its workers enjoyed the presence of CMD Sudhir Dhingra; Vikram Pandita, Asia Head, Next Plc., UK; Anuradha Sharma, Chairperson, Local Complaint Committee, Gurgaon (Haryana Government); VK Jha, Founder, Aider NGO and Narender Kumar, Nodal Officer, LCC. These dignitaries addressed the workers on various issues during the two hours long event focused on Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Rules 2013, Health and Safety/Motivational & Behavioural Session. Delhi-based Aider NGO was partner in this seminar and played an active role in contributing to the overall activities in the factory. Team Apparel Online which was present at the event witnessed highly motivated workers, inspired and re-energized through this unique endeavour.
An 11-minute long heart-touching skit was also performed by 7 female workers of OC, highlighting how women can be safe in workplace with the help of Internal Complaint Committee (ICC). It described how a woman can save herself when a supervisor tries to harass by complaining to ICC. OC has ICC in all its factories, and women are actively participating in these committees. It was a proud moment for workers when Sudhir Dhingra shared his mobile number with them on stage and said, “Factories of OC are safer compared to any other place for its workers. Everyone will get his/her share if the company grows. You are my family and are not here just to do your routine job, but to ensure overall growth of the company.”
Sudhir Dhingra, CMD, OC – “I am hopeful that even children of our workers will work with OC when they will start their career. I can’t tell how happy I feel when I see women of villages working happily in OC family. Some of my friends ask me that you have achieved everything, then why are you taking so much pain in business now. I answer them that I am concerned about the growth of each worker in OC. My target is to make every worker’s job safe in the long term, and for always…”
He impressed the workers describing his own journey which started almost four decades ago with Rs.15,000 only. He touched social issues too and urged workers to be more aware. “Our society should change its view towards girls and their upbringing; girls are equal to boys, no matter whatever and wherever it may be,” he said, and highlighted the global competition. Insisting that the Indian workers have to play a very important role in this competition, he highlighted, “I am very much concerned about the job and growth of every worker in my factory.”
Vikram Pandita, Asia Head, Next Plc., UK highlighted that his company will make sure the human rights of workers working in the factories of Indian vendors are preserved.
Anuradha Sharma shared in detail on “the need for ICC and how it can help the women workers working on the shop floor or even at middle-level management.” She described to the workers that if any organization is having more than 10 employees, formation of ICC is a must there to prevent sexual harassment. It should have maximum of 5 members, including a senior woman, and also with one person, necessarily from outside. Any ‘derogatory’ behaviour which is not liked by a woman will be taken as sexual harassment. For example, if there is a male colleague standing near a woman employee, and is talking over the phone with ‘double meaning’ conversation, it will also be a case of sexual harassment.
Archana Tomar Mann, Group Head – CSR & Compliance, OC insisted that workers should raise awareness and a sense of responsibility among other colleagues also during lunch break so that maximum workers can get benefit from such initiatives.
Talking about the powers of ICC, she further added that if any woman faces health issues due to any such behaviour, she must be given 3 months’ paid leave. Also as per the ICC report, action in 60 days by the owner is a must. Transfer of women employee or the male colleague responsible in such a case can be an immediate solution. Despite having complained to ICC, if a woman feels necessary, she can also file a complain to the local police station or take legal action through court. But if there is any such complaint against the ‘employer’, it will be filed with the Local Compliant Committee (LCC) rather than ICC.
Anuradha Sharma accepted that this law is being misused too and to stop this, if a complaint is found to be false, the same punishment will be given to the complaining women also as prescribed for the male employees. She specially urged to female workers that they should push the male members of their family to respect all women, be it in work place or anywhere else. “Women should not remain silent if anything wrong happens to them but at the same time, they should not ‘misuse’ any law,” she added.
VK Jha, Founder, Aider NGO shared the example of Arunima Sinha (the first female amputee to climb Mount Everest) while addressing his employees and stated, “You are lucky being a part of OC as you have full opportunity to move ahead. You and your organization’s growth are not different as workers are the ones who have an important role to play in the growth of the company.”
Vikram Pandita insisted that the Indian garment industry has to improve its image and prove that women are getting full safety, respect and no discrimination of any sort is there. He also shared his personal experience on these issues and assured full support from Next Plc. also. “To make more effects in ICC or such other things, we have to change and improve ourselves, otherwise there will be no use of such initiatives,” he stated.
Bharat Tex Special Report 2026 
