Police launch self defence training module for girl students in Odisha capital

Reported by Santosh Jagdev
Bhubaneswar, Oct 27:

To enable girl students of schools and colleges in Odisha’s capital city defend and protect themselves from undue harassment, physical agression and violence from anti-social elements miscreants, the twin city commissionerate police today launched ‘Self Defence Training Module for women’ at its headquarters here.

The initaitive was launched in the presence of state chief secretary Gokul Chandra Pati and offficials of the Lions Club Bhubaneswar Premium (LCBP) as well as senior officials of commissionerate police.

Speaking on the occasion the chief secretary shared some of his thoughts on the new initiative by the commissionerate police and said such training can help boost the confidence level among the girl students.

He requested the twin city police commissioner Dr R P Sharma to implement the plan to train girls with self defence skills at the police station level. He also said the police should take prompt action on any complaint lodged by girls and women over harassment and and these cases should be taken up by a fast track court which can provide early justice to the complainant. He urged every woman to get out of the perception that they are weak and defenceless.

Dr Sharma said the training module involves a 3-week basic training programme on self defence (un-armed combat) for school and college girl students above the age of 14.

The training programme , which began today would continue in different phases with several batches of 60 trainees each. The first batch is likely to complete the training course on 16 November.

The training is being imparted by selected police officials who are trained in martial arts, the commisioner added.

For this, a one–sheet application form -available at Commissionerate police headquarters here- need to be filled up by interested girl students for registration. “Our department has also sent some of the applications to various schools and colleges also,” Dr Sharma said.

Various training like warming up, strengthening, endurance, gymnasium and boxing, stunts (hand movements, blocks, punches and kata), fall/throw and hold/release, attack and self defence will be imparted during the course. Demonstrations of skills were also presented by seven trainees on this occasion.

Among others, Additional Commissioner of Police Dr Santosh Bala, DCP Bhubaneswar Satyabrata Bhoi, DCP Cuttack Sanjiv Arora, LCBP president Tushar Ranjan Nanda and girls students from various city schools and colleges were present on the occasion.