SAI Faces Staff Shortage Crisis: Minister Mandaviya Responds

Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya addressed concerns about over 1,000 vacant positions in the Sports Authority of India, as highlighted by a Parliamentary Committee report. The government has noted the shortage of staff and funds, and recruitment is underway, while measures for handling sexual harassment in sports are also in place.

On Monday, Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya acknowledged a significant staffing crisis within the Sports Authority of India (SAI), with over 1,000 positions currently unfilled. This concern, raised in a Parliamentary Standing Committee report, describes SAI as critically under-staffed and under-funded.

During a Lok Sabha session, Mandaviya was asked by Congress MP Adoor Prakash about the government's response to these staffing and funding issues. Mandaviya confirmed that the government recognizes the problem, with 1,191 vacancies documented, and recruitment efforts already initiated to address this gap.

The Parliamentary Committee report, led by Congress' MP Digvijaya Singh, highlighted that around 45 percent of sanctioned roles are unoccupied, prompting the committee to recommend urgency in the hiring process. Additionally, the government has implemented measures to ensure a safe environment in sports, addressing sexual harassment concerns with 24x7 helplines and mandated female coaching staff for female athletes.

(With inputs from agencies.)