The largest self-defense programme for girls will be conducted in Rajasthan soon. The programme to be kicked off soon as the memorandum of understanding (MoU) has already been signed.
The sports physical education fitness and leisure skill council (SPEFL-SC), a body of the national skill development commission (NSDC) of the central government, on the occasion of women’s day said that five lakh girls will be trained in self defense in the state of Rajasthan in five years.
The Nirbhaya Fund, carved after the 2012 Delhi gangrape and murder, will be used in the training of the girls.
One lakh girls to be trained
It will be conducted in five phases. In the first phase, one lakh girls will be trained in one year.
“The techniques of our self defence programme are unparallel. The moves are more scientific than any other oriental martial art. We have incorporated many techniques from different martial arts like Krav Maga, Piketi Kali, Jiu-Jitsu, Boxing, Kick Boxing, Grappling and many others to make the move compatible for Indian sub-continent,” said Tehsin Zahid, chief executive officer (CEO), SPEFL-SC.
“Here, the girls wear salwar-kameez, lehnga, sari and other attires that restrict movement. The techniques are aimed to reach the goal while wearing such attire,” Tehsin added while talking about the programme further.
Need for self-defence classes
Lt. Colonel (Retd.) Sanjay Panwar, a Kargil war veteran and head of self defence vertical at SPEFL-SC said, “This is the need of the hour. Why shall we wait for any untoward incident to happen? We shall work proactively to make a safer society for girls. This programme is revolutionary and it requires very less time for any novice to learn the techniques.”
The self defence technique is developed keeping in mind the real-life situation any girl can face. So instead of fancy and flashy moves, the programme is focused on scientific ways of getting out of the situation, he said.
“We do not teach our students to break bricks, ice slabs or bend iron rods because these non-living objects will not pose a threat to any girl while she is on the roads. We teach them to fight back and get out of the situation,” said Gaurav Jain, master trainer, Strike Self Defence, which the executing agency of SPEFL-SC.
He added, “We teach them to fight back and get out of the situation. Through this training, any girl can survive multiple attacker situations or an attacker that is heavier and stronger. We have already trained girl students under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyaan in Delhi.”