Chennai, Feb 4 (BPNS)
Even as the Tamil Nadu school education department has allocated Rs 184 crore for the self-defense training programme for Class 6-8 girl students studying in government schools, at a rate of Rs 5000 per month per school, the school management said that it was inadequate.
The money is allocated under the central government ‘Atma Rakha Prashikshan Scheme’ of the Central government for self-defense training of girl students studying in Classes 6-8 of government schools.
A total of 6774 middle schools and 5519, high and higher secondary schools in the state will be given an amount of Rs 5000 per month per school for a period of three months. However, headmasters on condition of anonymity told BPNS that the amount was inadequate as this amount includes the training fee of instructors who are to be hired from outside as well as snacks to the students.
A government school headmaster of Kancheepuram while speaking to BPNS on conditions of anonymity said, “The amount that is granted per school is much less. We cant pay an instructor and then allocate funds for the snacks of the students who are undergoing training. We need more funds for providing the refreshments to the students.”
The circular issued by the school education department states that a maximum of 100 students must only be present in a class. The students would be taught how they can use common things like key chains, dupattas of churidars, pencils, pens, and notebooks for self-defense. The training is given twice a week and women teachers are preferred.
The School education department officials will conduct periodic reviews of the training programme being conducted in schools. Another issue that is plaguing the teachers and school management committees is the lack of time as January is already over and by March end summer vacation commences hence the three months time will not be available. So the school management is submitting a proposal to the state government to increase the number of hours per week.
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