Bhubaneswar, April 23: Worried over the rising crime rate against women, the Odisha government has decided to engage top cops to train girl students in self-defence.
The training will be imparted to students of high school, Plus Two and Plus Three colleges.
Chief minister Naveen Panaik has given the go ahead to the state administration to initiate steps in this regard. The state government’s move followed a hue and cry over rising number of gang rape cases against women in Delhi and even in Odisha. The chief minister’s office informed that the programme would be launched soon.
Students will be trained in martial arts, particularly judo and karate. “The cops from Odisha State Armed Police Force and other armed battalions will visit schools and colleges and give lectures and physical training to students,” said an official.
Welcoming the government’s move, leading woman activist and former member of the State Commission for Women Namrata Chadha said: “The self-defence programme will certainly build a sense of confidence among girls. However, the government must initiate steps to train the students in local martial arts rather than depending on karate and judo.”
Echoing the same sentiment, retired senior teacher Sandhya Rani Mohanty said it would help girl students.
Director general of police (DGP) Prakash Mishra said: “We have not yet received the guidelines in this regard. Once the guidelines are issued, we will act accordingly. Our priority is to give protection to girls and women.”
Over 850 child rape cases were reported in Odisha in 2012 against 638 cases in 2011.
In 2011, a 22-year-old girl was gang raped in Pipili, forcing the Naveen Patnaik government to drop one of his ministers Pradip Maharathi.
Another girl was gang raped in Angul district this March and her body was mutilated, raising a hue and cry.
Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh said: “The state administration has failed in providing protection to women and girls.”
The government also said in order to expedite the hearing of cases against women and children, more additional session judge courts would be opened. “The investigation of criminal cases against women will be completed within 60 days,” said officials
