Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: Goa State Commission Protection Committee for Children’s Rights has written to Chief Secretary raising concern over child sexual abuse in private coaching institutes;
The Commission has recommended the government formulate a Child Protection Policy and identify all private coaching centres and register them.
“Commission has observed that at least five cases are reported in 2022 of child sexual abuse in private coaching institutes offering various sports-related activities, none of which are registered under a regulatory body,” the letter states
It says that Several of the said training institutes are found to be housed in the private homes of the coaches, and the reported abuse so far has occurred in the homes of the coaches.
“There are no set minimum standards with regard to the quality of training, qualification of the trainer, maintenance of records, as well as the fees charged by the said institutes,” it said
GSCPCR said that Child safeguarding and protection in sports had been given too little attention for a considerable amount of time and the most common reactions being that it does not happen, is someone else’s responsibility or is an isolated incident.
“Every day children participate in sport; the activities may be social or competitive, may take place in schools, clubs and other private institutes. An enormous number of staff, parents and volunteers, support, train and encourage children of all levels,” GSCPCR said
Meanwhile, the commission has demanded with the government that clubs and private coaching institutes offering sports-related training in the state be identified and brought under the regulatory body at the earliest.
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