The National Commission for Women (NCW) has stressed the importance of self-defence training for women, with Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar saying that social empowerment is as important as economic independence.
Rahatkar made the remarks in Bhubaneswar on Thursday while attending the “Shakti Show – Parade For Self Defence” initiative. She also announced a major self-defence training programme being implemented in collaboration with Odisha’s Mission Shakti, which aims to train 20,000 women across the state.
20,000 Women To Receive Self-Defence Training
The programme has been designed with a particular focus on middle-aged homemakers, who often remain outside formal skill and safety training programmes.
According to Rahatkar, training for around 3,800 women from five districts has already been completed. Another 5,000 women are expected to complete their training this week, while the remaining 15,000 women will be trained in the next phase.
The initiative is aimed at helping women develop the confidence and practical skills required to respond to potentially unsafe situations.
NCW Emphasises Social Empowerment
Rahatkar said women’s empowerment should not be limited to financial independence.
She stressed that while economic empowerment remains an important part of women’s development, women must also be socially empowered and equipped with the ability to protect themselves.
According to the NCW chief, self-defence training can help women become more confident and better prepared to deal with threats in their daily lives.
She also urged stakeholders to promote the initiative widely so that more women can benefit from such training programmes.
Self-Defence Should Be Taught In Schools
Rahatkar also called for self-defence training to be introduced in schools, saying children should not necessarily have to wait for formal changes to the curriculum before receiving such training.
She pointed to the National Education Policy (NEP) and said schools could take forward initiatives related to women’s safety and empowerment alongside the existing education framework.
The NCW chairperson argued that introducing self-defence at an early age could help students develop awareness, confidence and basic skills to respond to difficult situations.
Shakti Summit Held In Bhubaneswar
Rahatkar’s remarks came during the First Shakti Summit – State WCD Leadership Conclave, being organised by the NCW in collaboration with the Government of Odisha in Bhubaneswar from September 1 to 3.
The summit is being held under the theme “Coordination, Dialogue, Resolve, Solution” and brings together senior officials from Women and Child Development departments of 25 states, along with other stakeholders.
The conclave provides a platform for participating states to exchange experiences, identify gaps in implementation and discuss ways to improve coordination between the Centre and states on issues concerning women’s safety, protection and empowerment.
Pravati Parida Leads Inaugural Ceremony
The inaugural ceremony was attended by Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, Chief Secretary Anu Garg and NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar.
The discussions at the summit are focused on strengthening cooperation and developing more effective approaches towards women’s welfare and safety.
The self-defence programme for 20,000 women is being seen as part of the broader effort to strengthen women’s confidence and security while expanding the scope of empowerment beyond economic participation.
