J&K Sports Council Revises Committee to Combat Sexual Harassment of Women
27-05-2023 : The Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council has taken a significant step towards addressing the issue of sexual harassment of women in the workplace by revising its complaint committee. In an order issued by the Secretary of the J&K Sports Council, Nuzhat Gul, on Friday, Senior Judo Coach Ritika Slathia has been appointed as a new member of the committee, replacing Veena Chib (Hockey Coach), who retired in 2020.
Back in April 2019, the Jammu and Kashmir State Sports Council had established local complaint committees with the aim of addressing any complaints related to sexual harassment of women in the workplace. The then Secretary, Dr Naseem Javed Chowdhary, formed a 10-member committee, with separate committees for Jammu and Kashmir divisions, to handle complaints under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013.
These local complaint committees were established at the district level to ensure the prevention and redressal of sexual harassment incidents in the workplace. The committees were responsible for receiving and addressing complaints promptly, preparing speedy reports, and submitting them to the Sports Council Secretariat within one week. Subsequently, the Sports Council Secretariat would forward the matter to the General Administration Department, Civil Secretariat for necessary action.
The committee for the Jammu Division consists of Chief Coach Krupali Singh, who also serves as the In-charge Manager of the New Indoor Complex at M A Stadium, Jammu, as the chairperson. Rachna Jamwal, Senior Fencing Coach, is the member secretary, while Arshi Nad (Senior Judo Coach) and Vinaya Sharma (Senior Handball Coach) are the other members.
On the other hand, the committee for the Kashmir Division includes Nuzhat Ara, Sports Officer (K), as the chairperson, and Bilqis Mir (water sports) as the member secretary. Nusrat Gazala, Rafiqa Banu, and Ruksana Akhter are the additional members.
The revival of this committee has been widely welcomed as a positive step by the Secretary, as it ensures timely intervention in cases of harassment faced by females within the department and on the field, particularly among athletes. The existence of a dedicated committee underscores the commitment of the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council to creating a safe and supportive environment for women in sports.
