ANSWER
MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)
(a) to (e) As per the seventh schedule to the Constitution of India ‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are State subjects and, as such, the primary responsibility of prevention, detection, registration, investigation and prosecution of crime, lies with the State Governments/ Union Territory Administrations. However, Ministry of Home Affairs has issued an advisory on comprehensive approach to crime against women dated 12thMay, 2015 which inter-alia advises specific measures that need to be adopted which includes self-defence training for women to be encouraged by police.
Further, Self Defence training for girls is an activity under Samagra Shiksha – a flagship scheme of the Government of India in the school education sector. Keeping in view safety and security of girls, Self defence training is imparted to girls of class VI to XII belonging to Government Schools. Self defence training is also being given in Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) which are residential schools meant for girls of Class VI to XII and belonging to disadvantaged groups.
Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) vide its circular dated 07.09.2015 has issued an advisory to the schools affiliated to it on the need for imparting self-defence training to girls in classes I-X of one week duration, twice a year. Self defence training is regularly provided to girls students in Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs), Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalays (JNVs) and Schools run by Central Tibetan Schools Administration, where girls are trained in Judo, Taekwondo and Boxing etc. In KVs, inter-house competitions and tournaments of these games are conducted at Regional and National levels.
University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued letters from time to time to Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) requesting them to sensitize the management and teachers and to work out road-map for implementation of the recommendations of the SAKSHAM report on the measures for ensuring the safety of women and programmes for gender sensitization towards a policy of zero tolerance on the campuses vide letters dated 18.02.2014, 28.08.2014, 01.09.2014 and 06.11.2014. UGC has also framed guidelines on Safety of Students on and off campuses of HEIs.
The Special Police Unit for Women and Children (SPUWAC) of Delhi Police organizes self defence training classes and workshops on the request of Heads of Schools/Colleges/ MNCs/Hospitals/Institutions/NGOs/NCC/Hotel etc. for students, working women and housewives. This project of Delhi Police has been funded by the Central Government from Nirbhaya Fund.
Different State Governments and organisations are organising self defence trainings for girls and women with a view to enhance safety and security of women in the country. The data on number of trainees provided self-defence training is not maintained centrally in this Ministry.
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