Think twice before messing with Dakshina Kannada gals

SSA all set to teach school girls to defend themsevles with martial arts

Miscreants henceforth will think twice before messing with girls of Dakshina Kannada. A new programme, 'Chinnara Karate Abhiyana’ for girls designed by Dakshina Kannada Sarava Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is all set to teach young girls to defend themselves with martial arts.

The new programme by DK SSA was initiated after the State SSA stressed the need to add self-defense in the teaching curriculum, especially after the horrific Delhi gang rape incident.

The Karate programme, is uniquely designed as it combines a marital arts curriculum along with a character development curriculum. Enhancing a girl child's focus, increasing self-control, improving discipline and defending oneself are the main objectives of the Karate Abhiyan.

The programme proposal, points out that teaching Karate to girls will infuse confidence in them and help them muster courage. When young girls defend themselves, it will naturally project a confident image and hence they shall not be a easy target to bullies. Karate training increases the growing child's strength, coordination and mind-body conception, the proposal adds.

Action Plan

According to the action plan, girls studying in sixth, seventh and eighth standards in government urban schools are focused as the target groups.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, DK SSA Project Coordinator N Shivprakash explains that there are plans to conduct a minimum of two karate sessions every week in every government school which comes in the target area.

The State SSA has approved the proposal and has forwarded it to the Minister of Human Resource and Development for funds.

A budget of Rs 200 is fixed per child, per month along with a beginner's karate uniform which costs Rs 250 per child. If the funds are approved, then 3,242 children will learn Karate under the programme from the next academic year.

Talks are currently being held with various Karate coaching institutions and Karate teachers, with regard to coaching the children. There are plans to appoint 155 Karate coaches, he said.