Ahmedabad: Gujarat University (GU) has issued a new directive making it mandatory to depute a female staff member, professor, or coach to accompany female students travelling for sporting events, seminars, or any official university activity. The decision comes in the wake of sharp criticism over the university’s handling of a 20-member women’s wrestling team that was sent to Kurukshetra University for the All India Inter-University Women’s Freestyle Wrestling Championship without any female supervision. According to the new policy, no all-women contingent will be permitted to travel for an official engagement unless accompanied by at least one female representative from the university staff or faculty. A controversy had erupted in GU after it came to light that the women’s freestyle wrestling squad participating in the national-level championship was accompanied by a peon instead of a professor who was deputed by the varsity.
The absence of a woman staffer, professor, or coach accompanying the all-women team raised serious concerns and drew public criticism.
The Youth Congress also submitted a memorandum raising concerns over student safety and established protocol. The new directive has been announced in response to the backlash.
University officials have offered no explanation for why a female staff member was not included in the original delegation, or why a temporary employee with no coaching credentials was appointed the team manager for the national-level championship. Sources suggest that while the university is attempting to resolve the issue through policy changes, there appears to be little intention of taking action against those responsible for the lapse.
