Girls game for martial arts in Telangana govt schools

Hyderabad: In light of increasing incidence of crimes against women and girls, the Rachakonda Police Commissionerate came up with an initiative to provide girls training in self-defence.

As the crime rate is steadily growing and crimes against women on the rise, parents are naturally and gravely concerned about the security of girls. Sharing their concern, the cops have devised a self-defence programme at affordable costs at government schools. As part of this, Kalaripayattu, a form of martial art, training is being provided at government schools in Rachakonda circle since January.

The Rachakonda Commissionerate in association with Nithya Chaithanya Kalari, Hyderabad, as part of the Student Police Cadet (SPC) Programme, has launched the training programme using this martial art to train more than 1,000 girls from 25 schools in Rachakonda circle.

Speaking to THI, Mahesh Bhagwat, Rachakonda Police Commissioner, said, "The main aim of this initiative is to encourage girl students to become bold and employ self-defence techniques to defend themselves. It is a good opportunity for the girls to learn this martial art for their own protection. As the students studying at the government schools cannot afford to pay for these classes, the instructor is going to charge Rs 100 for one month from each student. This is a three-month programme which was started in January and will end in March."

Explaining about Kalaripayattu, Dr Bogiri Venkata Sivaram, a medical practitioner and martial arts trainer at Nithya Chaithanya Kalari, said, "Around 10 classes per month are conducted in the government schools. The training is given to students of 8th and 9th standards. We are also promoting the art form since it is losing its charm and existence among the younger generations."

Kalari training is based on an elaborate system of physical exercises. The practical experience of the body movements strengthens the knowledge of a disciple to lead a life of courage integrity, valour, and satisfaction. Apart from self-defence, Kalari is also famous for healing treatment which is said to be older than Ayurveda named Marma Chikitsa or Kalari Chikitsa. Many people are coming for these treatments. It has both internal and external medicines and different massages for back, neck, shoulder, knee, and any joint pains. External medicines are used in the form of powders, paste, oil massages. Internal medicines are used in the form of tablets, kashayams and powders.