Women gear up to fight for themselves, literally

By IANS

New Delhi : Dressed in jeans and salwars, women of all age gathered for self-defence classes at a Kingsway Camp centre in north Delhi. Enthusiastic and eager to learn, not a hint of hesitation appeared on their faces as they pushed themselves into doing stretching exercises which some of their bodies might not be accustomed to.


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Organised by the Delhi Police Crime Against Women (CAW) cell, the self-defence classes for women have been a huge success from the very onset. The two-week programme, which started Wednesday, has attracted hundreds of participants.

"We have three centres for self defence classes, one at Shamlal College in Shahadra, one in north Delhi's Kingsway camp and the third at Nanakpura. And we have got a terrific response," said Baljeet Kaur, one of the training inspectors.

Nearly 1,600 women have registered at the Shahadra centre, 600 at Kingsway camp and another 650 at Nanakpura. If you are thinking that it is just the younger lot that is turning up in hordes for these classes, you are mistaken.

"We have doctors, lawyers, teachers, home makers and various other professional women who have enrolled for our classes. Students, of course, are turning up in large number as well," said Kaur.

Amrita Dhawan, a homemaker, is one of the enthusiastic learners who have enrolled for the class along with her daughter. "It is essential that we become independent. I don't want to feel scared to step out of home after dark without a male companion nor do I want my daughter to feel that way. We must take responsibility for our own selves," she said.

Angana Adhikari, a student who has also enrolled for the class said, "Besides being economically independent, I don't want to depend on someone else for my security as well. I commute by bus everyday and I hope that these classes will help me tackle any untoward behaviour by anyone."

Pankhi Chawla, an eye specialist, is yet another eager learner in the group. "My basic mantra in life is be prepared for any emergency. I apply that to my profession and with these classes to my personal life as well," she said.

Teaching basic techniques like defending oneself on being attacked with a knife or gun by hitting the face and groin of the attacker to defending oneself by using a dupatta, a pen or an everyday article, the classes have swung into action from day one.

"We teach the basic skills of self defence which is a six months course in two weeks. If need be we will extend the programme," said Kaur.

The programme has been organized every summer since 2002 as most schools and colleges are shut around this time so that maximum women can take advantage of this opportunity.

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