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Self-defence training for kids part of education at govt-run primary and upper primary schools in UP

Learning self-defence techniques is now part of education at government-run primary and upper primary schools in UP. And these classes have helped rural students up their self-confidence and self-esteem.

Published on: Jan 22, 2019, 16:45:25 IST
Hindustan Times, Lucknow | By
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Learning self-defence techniques is now part of education at government-run primary and upper primary schools in UP. And these classes have helped rural students up their self-confidence and self-esteem.

A primary and upper primary school in Ghazipur district has formed an ‘Army Brigade’ where students, dressed in camouflage uniforms, move in their village to educate women on the importance of self defence. (Handout image)
A primary and upper primary school in Ghazipur district has formed an ‘Army Brigade’ where students, dressed in camouflage uniforms, move in their village to educate women on the importance of self defence. (Handout image)

“It is time for the girls and boys of Class 1 to 8 to roll up their sleeves. They should gear up for self-defence techniques from a tender age, when one can learn things much faster,” said teachers.

Primary School in Tilauli, Sardar Nagar in Gorakhpur has been imparting self-defence training to students regularly. “Students from Class 1 to 5 are given formal training in taekwondo. We have appointed a trainer, Beena Paswan, for this,” said Alpa Nigam, head teacher of the school.

“Girls of this village are now proving to be rescuers for others as well, at the time of unseen/unexpected problem,” said Nigam.

Khushboo and Anjali, both students of Class 5, said it is a welcome initiative by the school and the training has made them more confident. Shubham of Class 4 loves to be a part of it and can break a brick into pieces with a kick! And Ankita of Class 3 finds the training helpful in solving her problem of obesity.

To drive home the point that girls must be trained to face difficult situations, a primary and upper primary school in Ghazipur district has formed an ‘Army Brigade’ where students, dressed in camouflage uniforms, move in their village to educate women on the importance of self defence.

“There is no point sitting at home fearing for safety and security of girls. Time has changed for women to show the world what they are capable of,” said Piyush Chandra Srivastava, assistant teacher of Primary School at Saray Kasim, block Saidpur at Ghazipur district.

The ‘Army Brigade’ is a group of 5 to 7 girl students from Class 5 to 8 who are experts in self-defence. The members motivate all the girls of school for self defence and train them to stay alert mentally and physically – ready for any adverse situation, said Vivek Kumar Singh, principal of UPS in the same building.

Interestingly, these initiatives were taken by the school and their teachers. Senior basic education department officials appreciated the efforts and the department will encourage other schools to follow suit.

  • Rajeev Mullick
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Rajeev Mullick

    Rajeev Mullick, Assistant Editor, is a Lucknow-based journalist with over 26 years of experience covering governance, public policy and administration in Uttar Pradesh. His reporting focuses on the district administration, the Divisional Commissioner's Office, the Regional Meteorological Centre, and government policies relating to technical, higher, secondary and primary education. Known for impactful public-interest journalism, his investigations have led to significant policy attention, including a report on deficiencies in a state-run school footwear distribution scheme that prompted widespread national coverage and High Court intervention. He broke the story on the Uttar Pradesh government's One District One Cuisine initiative, highlighting the inclusion of sweets and the exclusion of non-vegetarian dishes, triggering widespread public debate. He covered Mahakumbh 2025 at Prayagraj, reports on the event's administrative, logistical and civic dimensions. From 2012 to 2024, he headed the Lucknow City Bureau, leading coverage of the state's administrative and civic developments while mentoring young reporters. He loves to travel, listen to music. He is fond of eating good food both veg and non veg. He has travelled to several states like West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Family Nadu, Kerela, Bihar, Jharkhand and home state UP.Read More