India’s National Human Rights Commission is intensifying scrutiny on gyms and fitness clubs amid surging reports of trainer-led sexual misconduct targeting women and minors. Acting decisively, member Priyank Kanungo has flagged this as a multifaceted crisis threatening society and health.
Notices to all states, the sports ministry, and related bodies seek clarity on operational guidelines, aiming to stamp out illicit activities. Kanungo’s public statement on X detailed the exploitation cases and warned of dangers from unregulated supplements and exercises.
Previously, NHRC probed Mirzapur’s disturbing racket, where a gym fronted youth exploitation and conversion attempts, deeming it a rights breach and summoning official reports.
Urban fitness centers, mushrooming rapidly, often lack oversight, fostering environments ripe for abuse. Women share harrowing experiences of harassment disguised as training advice, compounded by health scares from fake products.
Kanungo’s intervention highlights the human cost of lax regulation. The commission pushes for comprehensive frameworks covering trainer vetting, facility safety, and supplement certification.
Public discourse is heating up, with calls for CCTV mandates, grievance cells, and penalties for violations. This NHRC push could reshape the Rs 10,000 crore fitness market, prioritizing ethics over profits.
Ultimately, protecting vulnerable users demands collective effort from regulators, owners, and communities. A regulated fitness landscape will empower citizens to pursue health confidently.