5,400 women to get training in self-defence

A total of 5,400 women of the Village Poverty Reduction Committee and Panchayat Level Federation will undergo training on self-defence with a view to protecting themselves from any critical situation, especially sexual harassment.

The training will form part of the implementation of the Pudhu Vazhvu Thittam in four blocks of Annavasal, Gandarvakottai, Karambakudi, and Kundrandarkovil. In all, 155 committees and 155 federations had been formed in these blocks, said S. Ganesh, District Collector.

Inaugurating the six-day training for the first batch of the Committee and Federation of the Karu Vadatheru and Karu Therkku Theru village panchayats near Karambakudi on Wednesday, Mr. Ganesh appealed to the trainees to fully utilise the programme which aimed at enhancing their self-esteem and empowerment. The training for other committees and federations would be held in course of time.

The Collector said that Rs. 41 crore had been sanctioned under the Pudhu Vazhvu Thittam for these four blocks. While Rs. 19 crore had been disbursed to 155 committees, Rs. 22 crore was released to the federations in a phased manner.

Cluster groups

Under the programme, cluster level groups (CLGs) were being floated, identifying the talent and vocation of members. Members with identical vocations but attached to different SHGs were clubbed together to float the CLG.

For instance, women interested in rearing milch animals or skilled in readymade garments were clubbed to float the CLG. So far, 117 CLGs had been formed in these four blocks and a special fund of Rs. 95,000 would be released to them for infrastructure development. The Collector gave away cheques for Rs. 95,000 each to two CLGs for setting up dairy units in the village.

S. Vasumathi, District Project Manager, Pudhu Vazhvu Thittam, appealed to the trainees to utilise the skill only for self defence.

Senthilmurugan, a resource person from the District Silambattam Kazhagam, imparted the training.

NAGAPATTINAM: S. Palanisamy, District Collector, inaugurated the training on self-defence for the women members of self-help groups and village poverty reduction committees at Panangudi village.

He said the women members would undergo training on meditation, skill development for timely action, karate, and judo. The training, he said, would help women to protect themselves during any attempt for sexual harassment. He disbursed ‘Ambudasubrai Fund’ of Rs. 5.70 lakh to women members of seven self-help groups.

M. Jaiganesh, District Project Manager, Pudhu Vazhvu, and Madhumathi, Project Director, District Rural Development Agency, spoke on the goals of the programme. Apart from sexual harassment, the training would help them protect themselves from domestic violence, they added.

It is being introduced in four blocks under Pudhu Vazhvu Thittam

Rs. 41 crore sanctioned for four blocks under the thittam