GUWAHATI, June 27 � Despite best laws on the paper, the security of women still remains a concern countrywide, which highlights the need for an alternative approach towards the issue. Empowering women with self defence training cannot just scrap the �vulnerable� tag on women but can actually help change their mindsets as well.
After organizing self defense workshops at different levels here, Avas Foundation has planned to take the revolution across 27 districts of Assam, where women, specially school girls would be taught to handle any threat on their security.
Binud Kumbang, an international pro-wrestler from the Northeast and also a noted Bollywood action director and actor, is associated as the principal trainer with the Foundation for the self defence training movement along with Naree Shakti Foundation, Mumbai.
�After organising 10 workshops, Avas wants to take it a notch higher and start a base camp in Guwahati. We aim to train 1,000 volunteers to start base camps in all 27 district of Assam and cover 1000 educational institutions, corporate houses, factories and women�s clubs within a year,� said Sharmistha Deka, secretary, Avas Foundation, addressing the media here.
Binud Kumbang demonstrated some of the self defence techniques for the safety of women and the use of things like watch, umbrella or a pen to handle untoward incidents. �Women mostly surrender mentally when faced with a sudden attack. In the present circumstances, we cannot afford to be ignorant, neither the women can retreat to a shell. So it is better to face the world with full mental and physical preparedness,� he said.
�The tricks of self defence do not follow a particular style of martial arts but the motto is to create opportunities to flee or gather help. Knowing that the assailant might be physically stronger, women need to know certain tricks, which could be applied only with proper physical training and mental strength, which comes from awareness,� he added.
Rewati Chetri, model from Haflong and top 10 finalist of Femina Miss India 2015 is the brand ambassador of the programme. �Such techniques are very useful for any women, be it a professional or a student. Specially, those who remain outdoors for jobs and other purposes must be physically and mentally trained to handle such situations,� she added.
The schools already covered by this programme are TC Girls High School, Panbazar Girls High School, Uzanbazar Girls High School, Dispur Hindi Medium School, St Stephen�s School, Christianbasti, Axel Public School and Parijat Academy.