Lok Sabha Question No. 69 (STARRED), answered on 2022-02-07
Subject: Martial Arts for Girls
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Manne Srinivas Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. 69 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2022

## Martial Arts for Girls

## *69. SHRI MANNE SRINIVAS REDDY:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  making  it  mandatory  or  has  any  proposal  to  introduce  martial  arts training for school/college going girls to protect themselves and to build self-confidence;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and also implementation status thereof; and
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## A N S W E R MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

- ( a) to (c): A statement is laid on the table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (A) TO (C) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 69 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2022 ASKED BY SHRI MANNE SRINIVAS REDDY,  HON'BLE  MEMBER  OF  PARLIAMENT  REGARDING  MARTIAL  ARTS  FOR GIRLS.

(a) &  (b): Department  of  School  Education  and  Literacy  (DoSEL),  Ministry  of  Education  is implementing Samagra Shiksha-an Integrated Scheme for School Education, effective from 2018-19. In order to ensure safety and security of girls, empower girls to tackle risk of assault and for boosting their self  confidence,  under  Samagra  Shiksha,  Self  defence  training  is  imparted  to  girls  of  class  VI  to  XII studying  in  Government  Schools.  Self  defence  training  is  also  given  in  Kasturba  Gandhi  Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) which are residential schools meant for girls of Class VI to XII and belonging to disadvantaged groups.

Samagra Shiksha scheme has now been extended till 2025-26 and the amount for Self Defence training  under  'Rani  Laxmi  Bai  Aatma  Raksha  Prashikshan' component has been increased  from Rs. 3000/- to Rs. 5000/- per month per school for three months. Details of physical/financial approval under Samagra Shiksha from the year 2018-19 to 2021-22 for  Self Defence Training for Girls is as under:-

(Rs. in Lakhs)

| Sl. No.   | Year     | Elementary      | Elementary        | Secondary      | Secondary         |
|-----------|----------|-----------------|-------------------|----------------|-------------------|
|           |          | Physical        | Financial         | Physical       | Financial         |
| 1         | 2018-19  | Approval 134835 | approval 10221.87 | Approval 76581 | approval 6227.226 |
| 2         | 2019-20  | 180160          | 15346.257         | 81800          | 6656.358          |
| 3         | 2020-21  | 147784          | 13300.56          | 81438          | 7329.42           |
| 4         | 2021-22* | 163045          | 8320.49           | 56869          | 3337.27           |

(Source: Prabandh)

*In the year 2021-22, funds approved only for one month due to COVID -19 pandemic.

Further, 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 KVs, JNVs and Schools run by Central Tibetan Schools Administration, where girls are trained in Judo, Taekwondo and Boxing etc.

University Grant Commission (UGC) has also framed guidelines on Safety of Students on and off campuses of Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) which,   inter-alia, recommend that Self-Defence training for women studying and working on campus should be made a mandatory component of extracurricular activities undertaken in HEIs. Further,

UGC has also written to HEIs to implement National Service Scheme as elective subject for the benefit of students wherein self-defense is a component of the course curriculum.

## (c): Does not arise.