From molestation to eve-teasing to harassment, there has been a steady rise in crime against women in this country. The national capital witnessed highest number of crimes in comparison to other metro cities. As per a data released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), at least 5 rape cases were reported everyday in Delhi.
Amid rising concerns over women safety in the nation, here is an initiative by Delhi police that encourages women to learn self defence techniques.
Just like every year, Delhi police will organize a training camp for self defence for women this year too, from December 31, 2019 to January 10, 2020. This training camp is open only to people residing in Delhi/NCR. Women and girls of every age are encouraged to participate in this. However, there is no upper age limit. A limit to the training has not been capped. Arrangements are being made, keeping participation of previous year in mind.
Registration for the same can be done online. Basic details such as as name, age, occupation, address, names of father/mother, phone number, e-mail id, and preferred locations will be required to be submitted. The venues where training camps will be organized are – Naraina Vihar, Safdarjung, Kakrola and Vikas Marg. Approximately 10,000 women participate in this 10-day training session every year.
This initiative was started by Delhi police in the year 2002.
To encourage participation of larger number of women in this initiative, the Delhi police have made registration of training free of cost. With a tagline “Aab nahi hai darna” (No need to fear now), Delhi police have urged women and children to utilize this opportunity.
India has always been tagged as one of the most “dangerous country for women” in the world. Even though several measures have been taken by several governments – including the state and the central, number of evidences proves that nothing works. We have seen Chief Ministers of states like West Bengal, Punjab, Telangana and Delhi, coming up with several measures to ensure safety of women in their respective states, only after the horrific incidents in Hyderabad and Unnao (Uttar Pradesh) happened. It has been 7 years that the Nirbhaya incident happened, where a 23-year-old student was gang-raped inside a bus by six people in Delhi but, the convicts are still not being hanged.
There is also a huge contrast between the data released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) and the Delhi police on crime rates against women in Delhi. While NCRB says that at least 5 rape cases were reported everyday in Delhi, Delhi police data shows that there has been a marginal decrease in sexual violence against women in the territory.
With growing number of cases of violence and sexual abuses against women in the country, initiative like self defence training camps is required in every state. Boosting up security of women should be listed at the top of priority list of the state and central governments. Strict laws and scheme are required to be implemented that will instill fear in the mind of criminals. Other preventive measure, such as, surveillance also needs to be stepped up. Efforts should be made by every lawmaker because women in this country still don’t feel safe when they step out of their houses, travel alone around a secluded area or late at night.