On the occasion of the International Women Day, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports here organized a conference on ‘Women and Sports in India to deliberate upon various issues for encouraging more and more women to take up sports.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister of State (I/C) for Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Vijay Goel said his ministry provides equal assistance and incentives to both male and female athletes and there is no gender discrimination for training etc. He said Sports Authority of India in its Special Area Game Scheme has provided training to 807 women sports persons out of total 1862 sports persons.
Shri Goel announced that his ministry will constitute a high level committee to resolve the grievances and complaints of women sports persons under the chairmanship of Joint secretary Sports. The committee will comprise athletes, advocate, and senior officer of MYAS and sports journalist (all women).
He said women athletes, if they will have any complaint can approach the committee for their grievance redressal. He said his ministry follows a zero tolerance policy on sexual harassment.
The daylong discussion was focused on creation of safe spaces for girls athletes and women coaches, zero tolerance towards sexual harassment in sports complex, inclusion of gender sensitization modules in coach training modules, women representation in sports institutions, federations and other sports bodies and gender parity in terms of support to women athletes.