Striking at the Roots: Fighting Crime against Women through Self- Defence Training in Delhi

To control increasing crime against women has been the most challenging task for Delhi Police. To tackle this dangerous situation, the Delhi Police started with an innovative approach of training women in self-defence training in 2002. The incidents that almost remained unnoticed and unregistered now have acquired increasing awareness and a proactive attitude to fight and eradicate them from society. The Police, instead of delivering lectures or talks, directly reached the target audience. The women who otherwise would conveniently hide the incident under the carpet are encouraged to face the situation and fight it courageously. It is often said that a woman herself is responsible for any mishap. But women have been suppressed for ages and have been playing the role of silent victims. The roots of these incidents lie in the fact that girls have most often been raised by suppressing their feelings and rights, and they are unsure of their self-identity. Assertiveness training at the mass level was always required and long overdue.

This programme is an initiative taken by the state government of Delhi. The Crime Against Women Cell conducts this fifteen-day workshop for women of all ages, coming from all walks of life, including students, professionals, adolescent girls, illiterate women, labourers and elderly women. The idea behind such training is to inculcate assertiveness in ladies so they can take their stand, believe in themselves, and have equal rights and privileges in society. This society is actually made up of men and women, who are equal shareholders. The training aims to make girls physically strong, giving tips on staying healthy and the benefits of exercising so only a physically fit body can take on any life challenges.

The first thing that the training teaches is assertiveness to bring in self-belief. The loud and shivering voice of the women police trainers awakens the participants from the deep sleep of suppression for generations and ages. The session begins with warm-up exercises, stretching, jogging, etc. It is surprising and self-evident to find that the grip of suppression is so tight that it could be felt in the stiff muscles of the participants. While watching them jumping, giggling it appears as if it’s the first time that they got their private space and nobody is judging them or scolding them, they are free to move around. This could be the reason that very few girls miss these sessions. It is good to see that the seed of self-belief and awareness is sown. It proceeds to basics of martial arts, various types of punches, neck-locks, and use of available prompts like books, pens, dupatta, and sandals, and if they fail to use these, then screaming at the top of their voice would always work. The energy level rises as girls feel more confident that they are equipped to face any encounter. Everything is indeed in the mind. If the mind thinks and signals, there is no need to panic and worry; the body follows its orders. A dupatta could make the girl trapped and be tied, and the same dupatta could take the offender's neck into a grip and trap the attacker. These types of programmes have many benefits for adolescents who are yet to take their first step in the outside world, to make them fully acquainted with the kinds of situations they could fall into. Equal is the benefit to older women who have lost their self-belief over the course of their lives; it helps them to regain their lost confidence. 

These types of programmes have the potential to do wonders at the level of society. However, a lot has to be done at the family level and, most importantly, at the personal level. Self-belief and self-respect are required at the early stage of childhood. The girls have to be vigilant of their surroundings, whether outside or inside the comforts of their home. Crime can take any form, from eve-teasing, sexual harassment at the workplace, and rape, to domestic violence.

The independent and working women in the city struggle hard to get to terms with the man; some might end up in divorce. However, it says something about the male psyche: they become insecure as they have to deal with persons at the same level. For his conditioning was never like this. He was always made to believe that he was the decision-maker and driver of the family. The man must learn the art of compromising and adjusting with an equal partner. The man should no longer be the dictator in an equal relationship. The sooner the women understand and make the male folk understand, the sooner the problem of domestic violence will end. It’s easier to fight with a stranger than with known people.

For a harmonious society, men and women have to walk hand in hand. When each of them understands their rights and limits, our society will be the most beautiful place to live in. We might not need such training camps then; until then, girls will need such training to raise their self-confidence so that they become confident, assertive, and treated as human beings with dignity and respect.