Self-defence training for girls kicks off in Smart City

Bhubaneswar: At a time when there have been questions arising on the safety and security of women especially adolescent girls, Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited (BSCL) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) have come forward with a joint collaboration on women empowerment self-defence training.

Forty girls between 14 yrs and 25 years of age under the Bhubaneswar Town Centre District (BTCD) area were part of a self defence training programme which commenced on Monday at Utkal Karate School here in the city.

According to sources, a total of 10 batches with 32 members each will be trained for 10 days in self-defence under the guidance of renowned martial arts trainer Hari Prasad Pattnaik who owns the Karate school.

After the completion of the training, the participants will be given certificates along with a nominal stipend from BSCL under Socially Smart Programme.

Humara Bachpan Trust (HBT) is the implementing partner for the project for community mobilisation.

Expressing happiness at getting associated with the initiative to train young girls from various slum localities in the city like Shantipalli Telugu Basti, Masjid Colony and Jagannath Basti, trainer Pattnaik assured Utkal Karate School will provide best physical and fitness training of body and mind for the trainee girls.

Besides, Pattnaik also said that at the end of the training process all the girls will gain immense self-confidence after learning the simple techniques.

The defence school is also planning to have one session for each batch by an official from Police Department that would make the girls aware of some of the important initiatives being undertaken by the department to protect the rights of girls/women.

Utkal Karate School has designed a special curriculum for this training programme, which includes 40 major techniques, one mind training and one fitness training.