Lok Sabha Question No. 2016 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-01
Subject: National Sports Code
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Karti P. Chidambaram

## MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.2016 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01-08-2023

## National Sports Code

2016. SHRI KARTI P. CHIDAMBARAM:

Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  it  has  taken  any  steps  against  National Sports Federations which have failed to constitute an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) as mandated under the PoSH Law, 2012 and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  oversight  committee  that  was  constituted  to  probe wrestlers'  allegations  against  Wrestlers  Federation  of  India  (WFI)  has reached  any  conclusion  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the reasons therefor;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  address  sexual harassment  complaints  more  efficiently  in  the  future  and  if  so,  the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d)  whether  it  has  taken  any  strict  actions  by  the  Government  against National  Sports  Federation  for  non-compliance  with  guidelines  on  the prevention of sexual harassment of women in sports provided under the National Sports Code; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR)

- (a) to (e) Provisions  of  Sexual  Harassment  of  Women  at  Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) (POSH) Act, 2013 are applicable

to National Sports Federations (NSFs) as applicable to any entity defined in  the  Act.  The  NSFs  are  bound  to  take  action  in  terms  of  the  extant legal provisions in the cases of sexual harassment reported to them.

The  Ministry has  written in January  2023  to the  Indian  Olympic Association  (IOA)  and  the  NSFs  to  re-examine  their  structure  and policies in terms of the said Act and make the necessary changes/modifications.  The  Ministry  has  also  asked  the  IOA  and  the NSFs to sensitize their office bearers, coaches, administrative staff, and players about the prevention of sexual harassment of women in sports.

Details of the NSFs with duly constituted Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) are given at Annexure-I.

The  Sports  Authority  of  India  (SAI),  an  autonomous  body  under  the administrative  control  of  the  Ministry  of  Youth  Affairs  &  Sports,  has issued specific instructions to ensure a safe and positive environment by making all stakeholders aware that there is an expectation, at all times, of appropriate behavior consistent with the core values of sportsmanship and appropriate moral conduct. In order to provide a safe environment in sports, the SAI also runs a 24*7 helpline for the players.

The following measures have been advised to NSFs:

- i.       Women Coach to mandatorily be a part of the contingent with female athletes during Domestic/ International camps  and competition exposures.
- ii.      Compliance  Officer  (Male  &  Female)  to  be  appointed  in  all National Coaching Camps and Foreign Exposures. The roles and responsibilities of the Compliance Officer include communicating regularly with athletes and others to ensure that the guidelines are being followed as  well  as  enforce the Standard Operating Procedure on prevention of sexual harassment  in  sports.  The  Compliance  Officer,  among  other duties, should ensure that if any member reports a violation, the same should be reported earliest to the responsible authorities.
- iii.     Pre-Camp  Sensitization  modules  to  be  designed  and  presented to  all  athletes,  coaches  and  support  staffs  together  before commencement  of  any  National  Coaching  Camp  and  Foreign Exposure.
- iv.      Increase  the  strength  of  women  Coaches/Support  Staff  in  National Coaching Camps by respective NSFs.

With regard to the wrestlers' allegations against the Wrestlers Federation of India (WFI), the Government immediately took note of the allegations and instructed the Executive Committee of WFI to abstain, as an  interim  measure,  from  administering  and  managing  the  day-to-day activities of the WFI. Further, as a purely interim measure, an Oversight Committee headed by Ms. M.C. Mary Kom, Major Dhyanchand Khel Ratna Awardee and Olympic Medallist,  was  appointed  by  the  Government  on 23.1.2023 to enquire into the allegations of sexual misconduct, harassment and / or intimidation, financial irregularitiesand administrative  lapses,  levelled  by  prominent  sportspersons;  and  to undertake  day-to-day  administration  of  WFI.  The  Oversight  Committee has submitted its report to the Ministry.    In the meanwhile, based on the  complaints  from  wrestlers,  Delhi  Police  had  registered  2  FIRs  on 28.4.2023,  and  the  chargesheet  has  been  filed  in  the  Court  by  Delhi

Police. At  present,  the  affairs  of  WFI,  including  the  selection  of  athletes  and making  of  entries  for  participation  of  sportspersons  in  international events, are being managed by that Ad hoc Committee constituted by the Indian  Olympic  Association  until  such  time  as  the  newly  elected

Executive Committee takes charge.

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## ANNEXURE -I

ANNEXURE-I REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (e) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  2016  TO  BE  ANSWERED  ON  01/08/2023 ASKED  BY  SHRI  KARTI  P.  CHIDAMBARAM  REGARDING  NATIONAL SPORTS CODE

|   1. | All India Tennis Association              |
|------|-------------------------------------------|
|    2 | Indian Pancak Silat Federation            |
|    3 | Yogasan Bharat                            |
|    4 | Squash Rackets Federation of India        |
|    5 | Archery Association of India              |
|    6 | Sepaktakraw Federation of India           |
|    7 | Amateur Soft Tennis Federation of India   |
|    8 | Kudo International Federation of India    |
|    9 | Wushu Association of India                |
|   10 | Indian Weightlifting Federation           |
|   11 | Rowing Federation of India                |
|   12 | Athletics Federation of India             |
|   13 | Cycling Federation of India               |
|   14 | Amateur kabaddi Federation of India       |
|   15 | Kho Kho Federation of India               |
|   16 | Indian Golf Union                         |
|   17 | Gymnastics Federation of India            |
|   18 | Paralympic Committee of India             |
|   19 | Equestrian Federation of India            |
|   20 | Boxing Federation of India                |
|   21 | Hockey India                              |
|   22 | Cerebral Palsy Sports Federation of India |
|   23 | All India Football Federation of India    |
|   24 | School Games Federation of India          |
|   25 | Ju-Jitsu Association                      |
|   26 | All India Chess Federation                |
|   27 | WAKO India Kickboxing Federation          |

|   28. | National Rifle Association of India     |
|-------|-----------------------------------------|
|    29 | Shooting Ball Federation of India       |
|    30 | Roller Skating federation of India      |
|    31 | Swimming Federation of India            |
|    32 | Basketball Federation of India          |
|    33 | Fencing Association of India            |
|    34 | All India Sports Council of Deaf        |
|    35 | Special Olympic Bharat                  |
|    36 | Bridge Federation of India              |
|    37 | Billiards & Snooker Federation of India |
|    38 | Netball Federation of india             |
|    39 | Badminton Association of India          |
|    40 | Tenpin Bowling Federation (India)       |
|    41 | Yachting Association of India           |
|    42 | Indian Kayaking & Canoeing Association  |
|    43 | Indian Polo Association                 |
|    44 | Indian Triathlon Federation             |
|    45 | Table Tennis Federation of India        |
|    46 | Roll Ball Federation of India           |
|    47 | AtyaPatya Federation of India           |
|    48 | Tennis Ball Cricket Federation of India |
|    49 | Indian Rugby Football Union             |
|    50 | Cycle Polo Federation of India          |
|    51 | Softball Federation of India            |
|    52 | Taekwondo Federation of India           |
|    53 | Wrestling Federation of India*          |

*At  present  the  affairs  of  Wrestling  Federation  of  India  are  being managed  by  the  Ad  hoc  Committee  appointed  by  Indian  Olympic Association.