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Source- The post is based on the article “What the wrestlers’ protest says about power and politics in India” published in the “The Indian Express” on 28th April 2023.
Syllabus: GS2- Vulnerable sections of the population
Relevance– Issues related to women sports person
News– The top national- and international-level wrestlers to once again sit on a protest dharna at Jantar Mantar. They are accusing the WFI President of sexual harassment of women players.
What are the issues faced by women sports persons that are depicted by the current events?
The State and its agencies are the biggest violators of the law, especially the laws enacted to ensure the rights of women.
The obstacles faced in initiating the process of seeking justice are so daunting that the majority opt out after their initial efforts.
There is blatant misuse of official position and use of muscle power by the accused to intimidate and silence those speaking up.
There is a lack of political will to implement the law on the part of the state. This ensures that justice is neither certain, nor speedy and almost denied. The result is that perpetrators of violence against women are never punished.
It highlights the situation in the institutional set up of the Wrestling Federation of India.
The top sports bodies in India are dominated by politicians or their scions. The violators use their political clout to bully the complainants into silence.
There are threats to life, character assassination and everyday harassment and disrespect for women sports persons who file complaints. This is in clear violation of the 2013 POSH Act and Vishaka Guidelines.
When complaints lodged by international players meet with such a fate, it gives the wrong signal to remain silent to other women who suffer such violation of their rights.
