Lok Sabha Question No. 226 (STARRED), answered on 2018-03-12
Subject: Self-Defence Programmes/Courses for Women
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No.226 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2018

## Self-Defence Programmes/Courses for Women

## *226. SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK: SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: (a)  whether  the  University  Grants  Commission  (UGC)  has  written  to  colleges  and universities,  enquiring  about  introduction  of  self-defence  programmes/  courses  for women students and if so, the details thereof along with the response of the colleges and universities in this regard; (b) whether UGC has set any deadline to give response and if so, the details thereof; (c) the funds allocated/released/spent for this purpose, college/university-wise; (d)  whether  all  the  universities  have  also  been  asked  to  inform  UGC  regarding  the steps taken by them to encourage women students to join self-defence programmes/courses and strengthen National Cadet Corps training at the college and university level and if so, the details thereof; and (e) whether UGC has also asked universities to submit a status report regarding start of e-enabled classes and setting up of digital rooms inside the campus for the purpose and if so, the details thereof along with the response of the universities thereto?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

****

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.226  FOR  12.03.2018  ASKED  BY  SHRI  DHANANJAY MAHADIK AND SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR, HON'BLE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT,  REGARDING  SELF-DEFENCE  PROGRAMMES/COURSES  FOR WOMEN (a) to (e): The University Grants Commission (UGC) had set up a Task Force under the  Chairmanship  of  Prof.  Meenakshi  Gopinath,  Ex-Member,  UGC  to  review  the existing arrangements for the safety and security of girls and women in particular and of the entire youth in general on campuses of institutions of higher learning. The Task Force submitted its report titled as 'SAKSHAM- Measures for Ensuring the Safety of Women and Programmes for Gender Sensitization on Campuses' to the UGC on 30 th October, 2013. A copy of the Report of Task Force is available at http://www.ugc.ac.in/pdfnews/5873997\_SAKSHAM-BOOK.pdf . UGC  circulated  a  copy  of  the  SAKSHAM  Report  to  Vice-Chancellors  of  all  the Universities to implement the measures recommended by the Task Force for ensuring safety  of  women  and  conduct  of  programmes  for  gender  sensitization.  UGC  has requested  Universities  on  28.08.2014  to  include  items  like  holding  of  conference, seminars, conducting of workshops and classes for self-defence of girls, research and studies for implementation of the SAKSHAM Report. Further,  in  order  to  ensure  compliance  of  the  recommendations  of  Task  Force, UGC notified University Grants Commission (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of Sexual  Harassment  of  Women  Employees  and  Students  in  Higher  Educational Institutions)  Regulations,  2015 . As  per  these  Regulations,  it  is  the  responsibility  of Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) to organize training programmes and workshops for the students for gender sensitization as indicated in the SAKSHAM Report. UGC has, inter-alia, requested Vice-Chancellors of all Universities on 16.02.2018 to  provide information regarding introduction of self-defence programmes for women and availability of e-enabled and digital class rooms, latest by 19.02.2018. UGC has informed that, as on 26.02.2018, 130 HEIs are running self-defence programmes for women and 184 HEIs have e-enabled and digital class rooms. Further, UGC has been requested to universalize the adoption of measures recommended in the SAKSHAM Report. In order to strengthen National Cadet Corps (NCC) in HEIs, UGC has requested Vice-Chancellors  of  all  the  Universities  on  11.11.2016  to  implement  NCC  as  an elective subject in their respective University curriculum.

******