Class X student’s achievements acknowledged by int’l fora  
 
HT Correspondent
GUWAHATI, Nov 10: While most tall claims about empowering women and young girls start and end in meetings and seminars, a 16-year-old is setting examples by imparting self-defence training to the girls of her locality free of cost.
Minakshi Singha, a class X student of Pragjyotish Sr. Secondary School-Boragaon, Guwahati, an Israeli Defense Systems Krav Maga practitioner and a Karate athlete, has so far trained more than 500 girls in Pandu-Maligaon area of Guwahati city through free self-defence classes that she has been conducting every Saturday & Sunday for the last two year.
What started as an attempt to pass on her skills among her friends and girls in the neighbourhood, is now winning Minakshi accolades from across the country with her name featuring in the Indian Book of Records, which honoured her with the Indian Excellency Award for her endeavours.
The World Book of Records, London, U.K. and Assam Book of Records has also acknowledged Minakshi as the youngest self-defence trainer of the state in 2020.
Daughter of Manashi Singha and Monojit Singha of Pandu, Minakshi started taking martial arts training in 2016 and soon after she started passing her skills to the girls of the locality.
Even before martial arts, she was actively involved in organising street plays on female foeticide and girls education. Seeing her passion towards this training workshop, we allowed her to go ahead with it even if it leaves her with little time for herself. Even before starting weekly workshops, she used to visit schools and youth clubs to train the girl students totally free of cost, Minakshi’s father said.
Going a step further, Minakshi has also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to include self-defence training in school curriculum across the country as part of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao- initiative. Minakshi was recognised as a Local Champion by the District Social Welfare Department, Kamrup Metro District under the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao scheme.
Chief minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma has also appreciated Minakshi’s endeavour and vision towards empowerment and education of girls. She bagged many medals in the state and National level Karate championship.