Arecent women’s empowerment programme aimed at removing the fear and stigma around police stations. The workshop, conducted jointly by Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate and Indian Chamber of Commerce was spread over two weekends at Sister Nivedita University.
Named Baghini 2, this was the second edition of this programme and taught participants self-defence techniques but the emphasis was on presenting the police in a positive light.
“Women should understand that we are the enforcers of law and not goons who would harm people. We are trying to make law-keepers appear friendly towards women,” said police commissioner Gaurav Sharma. “There are stigmas that surround the police station. Women are either not aware of their rights or fear visiting police stations due to wrong notions fed to them from an early age.”
The first edition of Baghini was held in March at DPS Megacity school and had 100 participants. This second one comprised 150 women from all walks of life. Their curriculum included physical training and self-defence techniques, imparted by a national kickboxing champion. The women were also taken to visit police stations, traffic guards, cyber cell, control room and women’s police station. And they were educated about their legal rights.
The opening ceremony of the programme was attended by deputy commissioner of police traffic and New Town Indira Mukherjee, deputy commissioner of detective department Biswajit Ghosh and deputy commissioner Bidhannagar zone Bishop Sarkar. There was also the chairman of Indian Chamber of Commerce Sanjay K. Jain, vice chancellor of Sister Nivedita University Prof Dhrubajyoti Chattopadhyay and author Debarati Mukhopadhyay.
“This is more than an ordinary event. This is a movement to make women aware of their rights”, said Jain, of the chamber of commerce. “Baghini 2 aims to instill confidence in women by giving them a wider exposure about little-known laws that protect their rights.”
Author Mukhopadhyay emphasised women’s independence and safety. “There is no greater independence than financial independence. Women of the past generations had to stay indoors because they were financially dependent on their husbands. Financial independence is the prerequisite for any other kind of freedom,” she said, also making an appeal to the women present to take care of their health. “We have always neglected our own health while looking after everyone around us. It is time that we love ourselves and be confident.”
The workshop was attended by women in their late teens, 20s and those older. Though held at the university, many participants had come from outside.
“We generally fear the police for no reason whereas there is so much to learn from them. Self-defence is also important for us,” said Sanali Sardar, who had come from ward 6 upon being informed about the event by their councillor.