In December 2024, PENN conducted a landmark two-day PoSH Awareness Program at the renowned Kalakshetra Foundation in Chennai — one of India's most respected institutions for classical arts and culture.
Why Kalakshetra?
Kalakshetra Foundation is home to hundreds of artists, students, and staff who dedicate their lives to preserving classical Bharatanatyam and other performing arts. Like any workplace, it is subject to the PoSH Act 2013, which mandates organisations with 10 or more employees to have an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) and conduct regular awareness training.
PENN was approached to design a session that was both legally rigorous and culturally sensitive — respecting the unique environment of an arts institution while ensuring every participant understood their rights and responsibilities.
Day One: Awareness for All Staff
The first day focused on all staff — teachers, administrative personnel, and support staff. Sessions covered:
- ✓What constitutes sexual harassment under the PoSH Act 2013
- ✓The difference between quid pro quo and hostile work environment harassment
- ✓How to access the ICC and what to expect from the complaints process
- ✓Bystander responsibility and how to support a colleague
"Art institutions have their own culture and hierarchy. PENN's facilitators understood this and tailored every example to our world — it made the difference."
— Director, Kalakshetra Foundation
Day Two: ICC Training
The second day was dedicated entirely to Kalakshetra's Internal Complaints Committee members. This advanced session covered:
- ✓Receiving and acknowledging a complaint
- ✓Conducting a fair, impartial enquiry
- ✓Timelines and documentation requirements under the Act
- ✓Interim relief provisions and confidentiality obligations
- ✓Filing the annual report to the District Officer
ICC members left with a complete compliance toolkit: templates, checklists, and a step-by-step enquiry guide prepared by PENN's legal team.
Impact
- ✓180+ staff members trained across both days
- ✓6 ICC members certified in complaint-handling procedures
- ✓First institution in Chennai's classical arts sector to conduct a full two-day PoSH certification program
- ✓Session conducted in English and Tamil to ensure full accessibility
About PENN's Cultural Sensitivity Approach
PENN recognises that a one-size-fits-all training approach fails in organisations with strong cultural identities. Our facilitators spend time before each engagement understanding the organisation's history, hierarchy, and communication norms — then adapt case studies, language, and examples accordingly.
For arts institutions, religious organisations, or educational bodies with unique cultures, reach out to us to discuss a tailored program.