Presidency students get self-defence training to teach molesters a lesson

KOLKATA: A group of girls rushed onto the badminton court of Presidency University on a weekday afternoon last week. After arranging themselves in multiple files and adjusting the their hairbands, they crouched in an attacking stance.


They were not preparing for a face-off, but getting ready for the self-defence lessons that the university has introduced for the students under project Sukanya by Kolkata Police. Kolkata Police has roped in trained individuals in several disciplines who visit the educational institutes to teach the girls.

Project Sukanya is an initiative of the community policing’ wing of Kolkata Police for girl students. Six forms of self-defence — taekwondo, judo, kickboxing, karate, wushu and aikido — are taught as part of the project.

The girls get to learn techniques like jabbing, kicking and choking to ward off stalkers and harassers. They are trained to tackle any molestation attempt on public transport. Forty girls have already enrolled for the classes.

“The classes are held on Mondays and Tuesdays at 3.30pm on the badminton court,” said Arun Kumar Maiti, dean of students of Presidency University.

Due to a spike in crime against women, several educational institutes like Jadavpur University, colleges affiliated to Calcutta University and many schools have started self-defence training programmes for their girl students. While some colleges have roped in private outfits for training, others are taking help from Kolkata Police. Many schools have started the lessons from Class VI.

The trainers at Presidency University have started basic lessons in self-defence. “We are also training them to remain confident in tricky situations and draw the attention of others if there is an attempt to harass or molest them,” said a trainer.

The self-defence classes have created a buzz on Presidency campus with many more planning to enrol. “It is becoming necessary for girls to know self-defence techniques with the rise in crimes against women. Not a single girl can say she has not been harassed in anyway on public transport or when she walks down the road,” said Sneha Ghosh, an undergraduate student.

At Jadavpur University, several girls have enrolled in taekwondo classes. “Training in self-defence gives a certain level of confidence to tackle an emergency when immediate help is not available,” said Madhushree Mukherjee, a student.

The initiative has also provided an international platform to many girls who won several medals in the 2016 Kickboxing World Cup in Russia.