Girls to Respond to Violence: Self-Defense Training for Government School Students

Ludhiana | Taking a significant step toward women’s safety and empowerment, a comprehensive self-defense training program has been launched for girls studying in government schools in Ludhiana. The initiative has been started by the Sports, Physical Education, Fitness and Leisure Skills Council (SPEFL-SC) with the support of the Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC). The program is being conducted under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of IRFC, under the guidance of its Chairman and Managing Director, Manoj Kumar Dubey.
During the event held at Guru Nanak Dev Bhawan, students gave live demonstrations of self-defense skills. In the first phase, around 1,000 school and college girls are undergoing training, out of which 750 have successfully completed an intensive 12-day training module. The sessions are being conducted daily for one hour in different government schools, with participation from girls studying in Classes 8 to 12.
The main highlight of the program was the practical demonstration of self-defense techniques learned by the students. The presentations included situational awareness, defense in case of attack, mental preparedness, body balance, and real-life safety techniques. The disciplined and confident performances clearly reflected the self-assurance developed through the training.
In today’s environment, learning self-defense has become essential for every girl. After 12 days of training, participants expressed that they now feel capable of protecting themselves.
During the program, self-defense and sports kits were also showcased for the participants. Each kit includes sports shoes, a backpack, a tracksuit, a T-shirt, a towel, and socks, enabling the girls to continue regular practice even after the completion of the training.
Administrative Support Strengthens the Initiative
The ceremony was attended by Deputy Commissioner Ludhiana Himanshu Jain, IAS, represented by Additional Deputy Commissioner Pragati Verma, IAS, as the Chief Guest. Also present were District Education Officer Dimple Madan, District Sports Coordinator Kulveer Singh, SPEFL-SC representative Gagandeep Oberoi, and officials from IRFC. The officers expressed their commitment to continuing the initiative in the future and emphasized the importance of creating a safe educational environment.
Self-defense is a technique that uses body weight and balance to protect oneself from an attacker. The training focuses on practical methods to help students safely escape real-life threatening situations.
SPEFL-SC representative Gagandeep Oberoi stated that the target in the first phase is to train 1,000 girls, out of which 750 have already completed the program. He emphasized that, considering current social circumstances, empowering girls with practical safety skills is the need of the hour.