Patna: Perverts beware. Girl students studying in Class IX at 5,000 government schools across Bihar are getting training in martial arts.

The training is being imparted under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan to equip girls with self defence skills. The girls are being given martial art training three days a week by trained instructors for three months.

The training, however, is not available at all government schools. The education department has identified schools in each district where the classes are being held.

In Patna district, 43 schools have been selected where training will be imparted to students. The selected schools include both girls' schools and co-educational institutions.

Sources said that the training started last week, but it will become regular after the matriculation (Class X) examination concludes on February 28.

"The focus is to train girl students studying in class IX. The training session will run for three months under which basic self defence skills will be imparted to girl students," said Kiran Kumari, state programme officer at Bihar Madhyamik Siksha Parishad.

The Bihar government had in 2013 announced that it would train a million schoolgirls in karate so that they can protect themselves from sexual harassment. Sources said that under the programme training is being provided to students from Class VI to Class VIII but the classes are available only at Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas or at Sankul Sansadhan Kendras, which is a collection of three-four schools in an area.

"The state government this year has decided to expand the scheme adding girls from Class IX in the scheme," said Kiran.

The girls have welcomed the new scheme.

"We are very much excited about the martial arts training," said Rekha Kumari, a student of Mahant Harihardas High School Poonadih in rural Patna. "Girls in Class IX, X and college-going students face maximum harassment. The training will boost our confidence and will also help us defend ourselves from molesters and eve-teasers."

Ritesh Kumar Tiwari, a martial arts instructor at Rekha's school, said: "Under the training session, girls in Class IX will be provided training. The training has to be provided either before or after the school hours on the school premises so that studies don't get affected. Martial art instructors will get Rs 6,000 from each school and under the scheme an instructor can provide training maximum at two schools."