This TN NGO is set to teach Indian martial art Kai Silambam to 5 lakh govt school kids. Here's why

With an aim to equipping the children with self-defence skills, an NGO is all set to train 5 lakh students from government schools in the State on 'Kai Silambam'. Kai Silambam is a form of martial art from Tamil Nadu.

The training sessions for students from classes VI to XII will be jointly organised by NGO Elite Circle, Tamil Nadu Silambattam Association of Fine Arts, martial arts, Silambam and yoga trainers. Sources said that the programme got the approval from Samagra Shiksha's Integrated Scheme for School Education.

Speaking to Express, Additional District Project Co-ordinator (ADPC) of Samagra Shiksha N Thirugnanam said that as per the guidelines of Election Commissioner for Co-operative Societies and the President of Tamil Nadu Silambattam Association M Rajendran IAS, all physical education teachers (PETs) would be trained on 'Kai Silambam' this month. "The students will then be trained by these PETs, and there will be written and practical exams after the completion of the training," he said.

Elite Circle Project Co-ordinator K Pradeepkumar said that they are planning to train the students for 100 days. "At first, UNICEF's cartoon on good touch and bad touch will be screened. Students will be taught 'Kai Silambam' that comprises of 21 'pidi varisaigal' (techniques) in 100 days. The students will also get a book titled 'Tharkappu Kalaiyaie Kattrukolungal', authored by M Rajendran, free of cost. Finally, the students will have to write an objective exam for 50 marks in 30 minutes. There will also be a practical exam for 50 marks. After the evaluation, students will be handed over certificates," he added.

He also said that the training has the recognition from four organisations which includes Elite World Record Organisation (United States), Asian Record Academy (United Arab Emirates), India Records Academy (Mumbai) and Tamil Nadu Book of Records (Chennai).

Election Commissioner for Co-operative Societies and the President of Tamil Nadu Silambattam Association M Rajendran, who is the key initiator of the project, said that learning self-defence would increase one's concentration power and confidence level thus helping them to focus on their studies.

Earlier, some students from Coimbatore, Salem and Namakkal were trained on this martial art.