Riyaz Bhat
Srinagar, Sep 07: The government has said that gender-based violence was one of the serious problems in the education sector particularly in drop-out rate in schools, and in order to contain the issue, it is providing-self defence training to the adolescent girl students.
It also said that gender-based violence was a problem that was threatening the growth, development, education and health of adolescent girls in India.
Official documents of Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) reads, “Self-defence training techniques instill self confidence amongst girls and helps to promote girls’ education particularly their transition to secondary and higher secondary level to reduce the drop-out rate in schools.”
The Government of India (GoI) also said that through self-defence techniques, the girls are taught to increase their core strength.
“In dire situations, one is not required to have martial art training or a particular dress to defend and save oneself instead a strategic nudge, a sharp flick, a kick or a punch is enough to deter the attacker,” it reads.
The documents further reveal that the girls are trained to use everyday articles such as, Key Chain, Dupatta, Stole, Mufflers, bags, pen or a pencil, notebook etcetera as a self-defence weapon to their advantage.
The MHRD said that the Union Territories (UT) may also look for convergence for availing funding for self-defence training under the Nirbhaya Fund under Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, Police department, Home guards, NCC or with other government schemes—(KNO)