In a significant move for adolescent empowerment, the Women and Child Development Department in Odisha has rolled out a comprehensive self-defence training initiative targeting young girls across the state. This program is a core component of the department's ADVIKA scheme, designed specifically for female adolescents.
Weekly Training Sessions Under ADVIKA
The department has issued a clear directive to all District Social Welfare Officers, tasking them with the implementation of this crucial program. The training will be conducted once every week for a continuous period of three months. To ensure maximum participation and convenience, the sessions are scheduled for Saturdays within the infrastructure of each ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services) project.
Each ICDS project will initially cover a batch of 50 adolescent girls, ensuring focused and effective training. The initiative is meticulously planned to include all registered beneficiaries of the ADVIKA scheme who fall within the age bracket of 10 to 19 years. This wide range ensures that both pre-teens and teenagers gain vital skills for personal safety and confidence building.
Curriculum Based on a National Model
The technical foundation of this training is robust and nationally recognized. The department has confirmed that the entire training curriculum will be directly adapted from the Rani Laxmi Bai Self-Defence model. This model is formulated and promoted by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, and is designed to teach practical and effective techniques for self-protection.
By adopting this established model, the program ensures standardization, quality, and the teaching of techniques vetted by experts. The reference to the warrior queen Rani Laxmi Bai also adds a layer of cultural inspiration, connecting the training to a historical symbol of courage and resistance.
Empowering a Generation
The launch of this structured self-defence training marks a proactive step by the state government towards the holistic development and safety of its young female population. Moving beyond traditional welfare schemes, ADVIKA's new component focuses on equipping girls with tangible skills that foster independence, physical awareness, and mental resilience.
The three-month duration allows for progressive learning, where participants can move from basic stances and awareness to more advanced defensive maneuvers. Conducting the training at the local ICDS project level removes barriers to access, making it available in communities across Odisha. This initiative is expected to have a profound impact, not just in teaching girls how to respond to physical threats, but in fundamentally boosting their overall self-esteem and agency in public spaces.
