Bhubaneswar: The first batch of 25 girls from various slums in the Bhubaneswar Town Centre District (BTCD) area Thursday successfully completed the 10 days self-defence training module at city-based Utkal Karate School, here. They were all awarded certificates and felicitated by mayor Ananta Narayan Jena at a special function organised in the training premises.
The training was imparted as part of Socially Smart Bhubaneswar initiative of Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited (BSCL) and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), in collaboration with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Of the 25 girls who completed the training, nine each are from Press Colony Jagannath Basti and Shantui Palli Basti, while five are from Telugu Basti in Saheed Nagar and two from Maszid Colony.
The second batch of 32 girls, also from various slums of BTCD, attended the function as part of their orientation programme for the self-defence training. These girls will start their training in self-defence for 10 days from Friday. Eight other batches totaling around 320 girls from 24 slums in BTCD area will also be imparted the same training.
Expressing happiness over the initiative, Mayor Jena congratulated the girls on successful completion of the 10 days self-defence training programme and advised them to be brave and bring forward the issues faced by them before the authorities for quick redressal. Appreciating the work being done in the slums by Pragati Sathi peer leaders, Jena announced to include an award for best performing peer leaders in the famed NagaraBandhu Samman presented on Local Self Governance Day every year.
Several participants narrated their experience at the function and also presented a demo on the occasion. “I am now more confident in facing anyone who tries to harass me,” said Swayamsikha Swain from Press Colony Jagannath Basti. Sharing similar feeling Sonali Sahu said she would teach the self-defence art to her friends in her areas.
PNN
