Mysuru: The Department of School Education and Literacy will provide three months of free karate and self-defence training to 58,675 girl students studying in higher primary and high schools across Mysuru district this year.
The programme will be conducted under the Rani Lakshmibai Atmaraksha Prashikshan initiative, which aims to equip girl students with self-defence skills, improve their confidence and create awareness about child safety laws.
The department plans to commence the training in September, while ensuring that regular academic activities in schools are not disrupted.
Girl students studying in 140 higher primary schools and 235 high schools across the district are expected to benefit from the programme.
Training to begin from September
With grants for the programme already released, headmasters of higher primary and high schools have been directed to recruit karate coaches at the taluk level and commence training for girl students.
The training will be conducted for three months, with classes scheduled for three hours a day and three days a week.
The department has planned the timetable in a manner that allows students to participate in the programme without affecting their regular academic activities.
The initiative is intended to provide students with practical self-defence skills while also encouraging physical fitness and personal confidence.
Officials said the programme would give students an opportunity to learn techniques that could help them respond appropriately in situations where their safety may be threatened.
Schools to recruit qualified coaches
Headmasters have been authorised to recruit karate trainers for the programme.
According to the prescribed eligibility criteria, a karate trainer should have passed SSLC, or Class 10, and possess a certificate confirming completion of karate training from a recognised Karate Association.
The coaches will receive a monthly remuneration of Rs 3,000 for conducting the training.
The recruitment of trainers at the taluk level is expected to facilitate the smooth implementation of the programme across participating schools.
School authorities have been instructed to make the necessary arrangements so that classes can begin in September.
The department will also need to coordinate the training schedule with the regular school timetable to ensure that students do not miss important academic activities.
Focus on confidence and child safety
The Rani Lakshmibai Atmaraksha Prashikshan programme is not limited to teaching physical self-defence techniques.
Officials said the training is also intended to improve the overall confidence of girl students and make them more aware of personal safety.
Awareness about child safety laws is another component of the initiative.
By combining physical training with awareness, the programme seeks to empower students to recognise potentially unsafe situations and respond with greater confidence.
The training could also encourage students to remain physically active and develop discipline through regular practice.
Positive response from students and parents
Kamala, district planning officer, Comprehensive Education System, Department of School Education and Literacy, said directions had been issued to headmasters of higher primary and high schools to recruit karate coaches at the taluk level.
She said training classes for female students would begin from September.
According to Kamala, the programme would provide students with self-defence techniques while also helping improve their overall confidence.
The department’s decision to introduce the training across a large number of schools reflects its focus on strengthening safety and empowerment initiatives for girl students.
Suresh, physical education inspector at the Mysuru South Block Education Office, said the karate training programme had received a good response from girl students as well as their parents.
He emphasised the wider importance of self-defence training for girls, saying that acquiring such skills could benefit not only the students but society as a whole.
Training to cover 375 schools
The programme will cover a total of 375 schools in the district, comprising 140 higher primary schools and 235 high schools.
With 58,675 girl students expected to benefit, the initiative will provide access to structured self-defence training on a large scale.
The three-month programme will give students an opportunity to undergo regular sessions rather than attending one-time awareness programmes.
The training is also expected to encourage schools to give greater attention to physical education and personal safety alongside academic learning.
School authorities will be responsible for arranging qualified trainers and ensuring that the classes are conducted according to the prescribed schedule.
Programme aimed at empowering girls
The introduction of free karate and self-defence classes is expected to provide students with skills that can be useful both inside and outside the school environment.
Self-defence training can help students develop confidence, discipline, physical coordination and awareness of their surroundings.
The inclusion of child safety law awareness is intended to complement the physical training by helping students understand their rights and the legal safeguards available to them.
The department hopes that regular participation will encourage students to become more confident in dealing with situations that could pose a threat to their safety.
With the programme scheduled to begin in September, schools across Mysuru district are now expected to complete the recruitment of trainers and make arrangements for the classes.
The initiative will run for three months and is designed to ensure that girl students gain practical self-defence skills without compromising their regular academic schedule.