UP News: Self-defence training will be imparted to female students of 45,000 state-run schools

In a special six-day programme, around two lakh female students in Uttar Pradesh are slated to be given training in self-defence. The students, from more than 45,000 state-run schools, will be trained under Mission Shakti's programme, the Rani Laxmibai Self-Defence Training module.

Mental health and fortitude, besides physical empowerment, will be a key focus for all female students between 11-14 years, and enrolled in Council and numerous Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas.

The module has been culminated with the aid of the field experts. For the execution of the same, self-defence instructors, legal counsel, UP Police, the education department, UPDESCO, and UNICEF have been consulted. For the same, women and child security wing of the UP Police, 1090, has also been roped in as a consultant agency.

A six-day training programme, at a district level, will be hosted for instructors, where 1,200 PT teachers (divided into a batch of 50 each) will be given weekly trainings. The teachers would be evaluated and certified.

On a daily basis, one-hour sessions will be conducted by instructors in schools. Herein, self-defence training, along with yoga, will be incorporated. Physical activities and sports will be also encouraged.

With an overall objective of ensuring the well-being of girls and bolstering safety, the state government will also organise numerous group discussions on cyberbullying, eve-teasing, acid attacks, amidst other awareness campaigns.