A group of girls who are vulnerable to domestic violence are being trained in self-defence so they do not have to put up with violence.
The training is being held in the neighbourhoods where they live so it sends out the message that they can defend themselves against the violence they are subjected to.
Many of the girls or their mothers are silent sufferers who have endured violence for years, said an official of the NGO who works with them.
“We are empowering our girls so they do not have to put up with violence at home. Whether it is their brother, father, husband or any other family member, they have to know how to defend themselves,” said Mohuna Dutt, CEO, Calcutta Social Project.
All girls from the age of five to 16 are undergoing the training that will be held for three months.
Dutt said their experience over the years has been that the girls are taught to endure violence.
“The women go out and earn but do not have a say because they get overpowered by the men and are groomed to endure violence,” she said.
The mothers or daughters initially do not talk about the violence they face. “The girls open up about the distress at home when they realise that we provide a safe space to them,” said Dutt.
A 17-year-old girl has grown up seeing her father, a driver, beat her mother.
“There are occasions when he has hit me as well. I have never seen my
mother protesting. If I learn self-defence I will be able to take the stand my mother has never been able to,” said the girl.
“Given his strength and weight, I will not be able to fight him. But if I pick up some techniques, I would be able to protect myself and my sister,” she said.
Arjun Dutta, president of Calcutta Social Project, said many of the girls — as well as boys — are married off early. The boys cannot provide for their families and this sometimes leads to violence, he said. Women become the targets.
“We are training them in the neighbourhoods they live in so the men know that these girls are being empowered. Just like we train them in dance, art and other things, we are training them in self-defence,” said Dutta.
Training at least one generation of girls would help turn the tables in favour of them, said an NGO worker.