Bhubaneswar, Nov. 2: A three-week self defence training module for women, organised by the city police here has received an encouraging response.

The training is aimed at enabling girl students of schools and colleges in the city to learn how to defend and protect themselves from undue harassment, physical aggression and violence from goons.

Young students in schools and colleges at the training camp said they were regularly exposed to eve teasing and mischief by roadside ruffians and did not feel safe to step out after dark.

They said very often the paan shops and Omfed parlours near the schools were crowded with college goers and young men, who passed lewd comments when girl students passed by them.

“There are some people who visit these shops regularly. It is strange that although there are other senior persons witnessing all these, they remain indifferent,” said Anwesha Panda, a participant.

The problem is even more serious during the evening hours when students go for coaching classes and return at night.

Bikes and cars following girls from the coaching centres are very common.

“It gets really scary when these people stop they vehicles to pass comments and continue to follow us,” said Bandana, another participant.

“Whenever such incidents happen with me, I reach home and discuss it with my mother. She tells me that in such situations I should raise an alarm,” she said.

“Groups of boys staring at you when you walk by, passing vulgar comments and giggling behind your back is very upsetting. We often do not know what to do. It lowers our confidence and self esteem. Sometimes I feel like I should go back and question them, but I am not sure how many people will come forward to rescue me if they attack,” said Preeti, another student.

“Last week, a guy on a bike touched my friend inappropriately. She could not do anything and remained depressed for many days. We have heard everyone including the police speaking of women rights but when it comes to a real life situation, we wonder how many would intervene and speak up for the girls in distress,” she said.

The students suggested that one way of ending such nuisance could be regular police patrol in areas where schools are located, especially when the institutes close in the evening.

“In fact, the police can find out who the mischief makers are and can warn them so that they stop doing it. This will solve the problem to a great extent,” said Jigyasa another participant.

The same could be done close at coaching and tuition centres. This will help prevent any untoward incident, she said.

The unarmed combat training programme would continue in different phases with several batches of 60 trainees each. The first batch is likely to complete the training course on November 16.

The participants are being given training in physical exercise, strengthening endurance and martial art to help fend off eve-teasers, stalkers or assaulters.