Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya (ANI Photo) NEW DELHI: The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has received 33 complaints of sexual harassment against its coaches and administrative staff over the past decade, suggesting more female athletes are coming forward to report such issues. Of this, a significantly higher number of 25 complaints were filed against coaches.The figure was revealed by Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in the Lok Sabha in response to an unstarred question on Monday. According to the minister’s answer, based on the findings of the investigative commission, six coaches were suspended and two had their contracts terminated.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!“As far as SAI is concerned, since 2016, eight complaints have been filed against administrative staff and 25 complaints against coaches. Out of the said eight cases, two cases are currently pending. For administrative staff, one penalty was permanent denial of full gratuity under Rule 9 of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972, while the remaining cases were closed without penalty.“For the coaches, the measures taken based on the facts found include six expulsions, six minor punishments and two expulsions. Furthermore, no appeals were filed for administrative staff. However, for the coaches, eight appeals were filed by the complainant or the accused against the decisions/recommendations of the investigative commissions,” he added.The minister’s post was in reference to questions raised by Members of Parliament (MPs) Adhikari Deepak Dev and Raja Ram Singh. MPs asked Mandaviya for “details of the total number of sexual harassment complaints received against officials, coaches and support staff associated with the ministry, SAI, affiliated National Sports Federations (NSFs), SAI centers and other sports institutions in the last ten years and the current year”.After revealing that the ministry does not keep data on sexual harassment complaints made by athletes to the sports federations or bodies concerned, the sports minister said that no sexual harassment complaints against officials directly under his ministry had been reported during that period.“The NSFs are voluntary bodies registered under the Companies Registration Act 1860 / Trusts Act / Companies Act. They are governed by their own constitution and have their own mechanism to redress grievances/grievances brought to them by athletes,” he said. “The Ministry as well as various organizations under the Ministry have also set up Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) to ensure that all employees/trainees/athletes at these venues have access to a mechanism for redressal of complaints related to sexual harassment. No complaints have been lodged with the Ministry against its officials in this regard in the last ten years and the current year,” he added.TEN-YEAR SAI RECORD
- 33 complaints of sexual harassment
- 25 complaints about coaches
- Suspension: 6 coaches. Termination: 2
- Appeal: Eight athletes were not satisfied with the investigation commission’s findings
- administrative staff: In one case, permanent withholding of full gratuity.
