Attention women. If you want to take self-defence classes to boost your confidence, walk into the Ernakulam North police station.
After setting up the first child-friendly police station at Kadavanthra, the city police have now set up a permanent centre to impart free training to women in self-defence. The permanent women self-defence centre, comprising a multi-gym and training centre, is all set to commence operation on the third floor of the new police station building here in June.
The project, initiated in the face of a rising tide of violence against women, also aims to help women protect themselves against assaults.
The trainees may avail the service of expert police trainers including a woman trainer between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. every day.
It has been set up at a cost of ₹10 lakh, and the facility will be expanded once more funds are made available from the State.
Good response
“The project has received a great response among womenfolk in the city as we have got several enquiries from all parts of Kochi,” said K. Laljy, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Ernakulam. According to the officer, self-defence training will help women to stop looking at themselves as victims.
The centre, which has the capacity to train 50 women at a given point of time, will have separate toilets and dressing rooms for the trainees. The training comprises modules on various types of assaults against women such as molestation bid while travelling, bag snatching, and domestic violence among others.
Plans are also afoot to include personality training and psychological tips to enhance confidence among women and create awareness about laws.
As per official estimates, 14,061 cases of atrocities against women were recorded in Kerala in 2016 as against 12,383 the previous year.
Similarly, the State witnessed 3,787 cases of molestation and 1,574 cases of rape, in addition to 161 kidnapping cases till March this year after the present Left Democratic Front government came into power.
