The School Education Department has come up with an innovative programme to train young school girls to defend themselves . Adolescent school girls in the rural areas too will get to learn self-defence moves.
The School Education Department has proposed the programme under “Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan,” a Union government-sponsored scheme to train girls of government schools last February. Funds were allocated to 40 government schools initially for the programme. It could not be conducted then as examinations disrupted the schedule. Now, the schools have commenced the programme on at their campuses following the School Education Department’s instructions.
Utilising the fund allocated by the School Education Department, the schools have hired experts to impart training to girls in karate, judo, and taekwondo after school hours.
J. Krishnaraju, State Project Director, told The Hindu , “the training programme will be helpful in preventing sexual assaults and eve teasing. Initially we planned to impart training to girls at 40 government schools. In each school, about 40 students will be trained. As per our instructions, those schools have commenced the programme in a phased manner after school hours.”
The programme would be extended to remaining 129 government schools. The response was overwhelming among school girls in the rural areas.
S. Muruganandam, Vice Principal of TKRSP Govt Higher Secondary School, Koravelimedu, said, “It is a great opportunity for girl children in rural areas. In urban areas, parents normally take their wards to private institutions for self-defence classes. But, such opportunity were not available so far in rural areas.”
The girls are taught the techniques after obtaining consent from the parentsfor fifteen days.
Panch. Ramalingam, psychologist, said that this programme would motivate the adolescents and develop their self-esteem and self-confidence.
