The Olavanna panchayat is gearing up to become a local body having all its adolescent girls aged 11-19 trained in self-defence. In a unique initiative, the local body, in association with Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) has come up with a scheme offering taekwondo training to girls under its limit.
ICDS supervisor C Noorjahan, who is the implementing officer of the scheme said the scheme is part of 'Abhayam' a comprehensive women security project initiated by the panchayat to address the increasing atrocities against women and girls. "The self-defence training programme mainly comprises easy-to-remember defence lessons. The programme also aims to build self-confidence among girls", she said.
The training programme, which aims to provide self-defence training to all adolescent girls under the local body limit is planned to implement in a phased manner. According to the ICDS officer, there are around 4340 adolescent girls in the local body and 200 girls are undergoing training in the first phase of the initiative. The remaining girls are slated to include in the training in the next phases of the project, she added.
As part of the project, the local body has launched three training centres in its different parts and authorized trainers are also appointed at the centres. Participants will get one-year long training in each batch. And, the classes are scheduled to conduct from 3.30 p.m to 5.30 p.m in two days in a week.
The ICDS supervisor added "we are also conducted Yoga training programme for girls and women as part of 'Abhayam' project. Around 150 girls aged above 18 have been given training in the first phase. More girls will get the benefit of the initiative in the later phases. In addition, a project to open health clubs for women is underway", she added.
