Anurag Thakur: Minister says only 4 Sports Federations reported sexual harassment cases in last 3 years

The Sports Ministry has affirmed that the PoSH Act, 2013 (Sexual Harassment at Workplace) applies to all National Sports Federations (NSFs), and in the last three years, only four NSFs have reported cases related to sexual harassment. Sports Minister Anurag Thakur made this revelation during a written response in Rajya Sabha.

Thakur wrote, “Prohibition and Redressal) (PoSH) Act, 2013 is applicable to all 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 also issued instructions to all NSFs from time-to-time on the prevention of sexual harassment in sports.”

During the last three years, and the current year, only four NSFs - wrestling, cycling, sailing, and gymnastics, have reported complaints of sexual harassment.

Wrestling, in particular, has been in the news recently due to the sexual harassment charges against former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Also read: Former WFI Chief Brij Bhushan Singh gets regular bail in wrestlers' sexual harassment case