Wilfred Pereira
PANJIM: The appointment of the swimming coach in Goa caught in the alleged molestation and controversy of one of the trainee inmates was flawed since it violated the guidelines issued by the Sports Ministry Govt. of India.
The guidelines issued by the Ministry of Sports in its code of conduct for Coaches, strongly recommends presence of female sports coach during training activities along with male coaches as per clause:4.1.5. The clause says “Having a female sports coach present during the training activities along with male coaches while coaching girl sportspersons is the most ideal thing.”
The guidelines drafted by Goan SAI Executive Director Roque Dias, circulated across the country called for appropriate boundaries, with sports personnel meeting the inmates at designated areas and respecting their privacy. The guidelines prohibits coaches from inviting or escorting athletes to their residence without parental consent, usage of appropriate language and in case of personal touch, the need to explain the need for personal touch and seek their consent for the same during training specially in body contact disciplines.
The guidelines has a provision for online/helpdesk for grievances of trainees, including sexual harassment, besides setting up of an alarm system. The Guidelines for Institutions, Coaches, Trainees and Sportspersons, Female Sportspersons have been prepared after going through an elaborate process of consultation with all the stakeholders under the guidance of National Commission for Protection of Child Right, Govt. of India.
These guidelines were appreciated by eminent sports personalities and endorsed their views in the brochure, namely Pulela Gopichand Padma Bhushan, Dipa Karmakar Padma Shri, Bhaichung Bhutia Padma Shri, Olympic Bronze Medalist K Mallesswari and Olympian Dr MP Ganesh.
In the alleged case of molestation by the swimming coach, it was reportedly the responsibility of the Goa Swimming Association, to see that female coaches always accompanied female athletes. The president of the Goa Swimming Association is former CM of Goa, and the present Margao MLA, Digambar Kamat.
According to SAI sources, the Bengali swimming coach used to charge a high fee for teaching youngsters. However, he used to make use of the facility of the SAI, but reportedly not paying any fees for using the govt facility.
A SAI source from a neighbouring State, who did not want his name to be disclosed, said that many a time, female athletes are not accompanied by lady coaches, which puts them in a difficult situation in case they fall ill on the tour. “It is often difficult for the female athletes to approach the male coaches and explain to him their problems,” he said.
Many of the coaches were happy once SAI came out with these guidelines since the female athletes would be assured of their safety with female coaches around.
“It is as much our duty to be careful and comply with safety rules as it is to properly perform our work,” said Padma Bushan Pulela Gopichand, badminton coach, after the guidelines were released by SAI Executive Director Roque Dias.
These guidelines released by Vijay Goel, Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, in the year 2017 at New Delhi, also calls for ensuring safe lodging of trainees and providing good environment for practice of sports persons. The guidelines were initiated by Dias in keeping with the guidelines of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights following the suicide of trainees in Kerala and MP. While imparting training for female trainees by Rudrappa Sr Kabaddi Coach without presence of female coach in Bangalore, after he was accused of entering a women’s washroom. Rudrappa later hanged himself.
Padma Shri Dipa Karmakar Olympic silver medallist, said: “Safety is about following the guidelines, even if no one is looking, because being safe today will keep you alive tomorrow.”
Over 12,000 youth in the 8-25 age group, including 7954 resident trainees, are currently under training at SAI Centres all over the country.
Arjuna Awardee Ashwini Nachappa (Athletics) said: “To bring in excellence it is imperative to address the total well-being of the athlete and ensure that the support system is geared to delivering this 360-degree outlook. It is heartening that SAI have charted a clear course in this respect.”
