The State Human Rights Commission has directed the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) to appoint women coaches for women and girl cricketers, following allegations of sexual abuse by a cricket coach. Commission chairperson Justice Alexander Thomas issued the directive while disposing of a suo motu case registered on media reports alleging that a KCA coach had sexually harassed and behaved inappropriately towards girls in training.
Key Directives for Safety
Where women coaches are unavailable, the commission said a senior woman official must be present throughout training sessions. It also directed that men be barred entirely from changing rooms used by women and girls. Parents accompanying girl trainees should be allowed to stay at training venues if they wish.
Surveillance and Reporting
The commission further ordered the installation of CCTV cameras at strategic locations and directed authorities to review the footage every two to three days and promptly report any suspicious activity to the police. Complaints against coaches must be forwarded to police without delay, the commission said, directing district associations to strictly implement the KCA's order barring cooperation with the accused coach, who faces trial under the POCSO Act.
KCA's Proposed Measures
The KCA told the commission it plans mandatory police clearance certificates for new hires, a child protection policy, staff counselling, and an internal complaints committee against workplace harassment. The commission directed effective implementation, plus awareness programmes for young coaches on preventing child sexual abuse.
Justice Thomas urged vigilance against a recurrence of cases like the minor girl's complaint against an assistant coach of the Thiruvananthapuram District Cricket Association, facing six cases registered by Cantonment Police, Thiruvananthapuram.
