Women rise, determined not to take it lying down

About three dozen women participated in a self-defence training programme at Cubbon Park on Sunday.

Organised by Arise India Movement as part of Dharani Week, the participants from various walks of life, including students, were taught basic manoeuvres of self-defence by Raghav, a martial arts expert.

Raghav demonstrated how, by using just a pen, key or magazine, the participants can defend them in the eventuality of an attack. Apart from stressing on the need for maintaining physical fitness, he also spoke on the mental aspects of self-defence.

The participants, expressing satisfaction at having learnt a few self-defence tricks, said these would come handy to protect themselves.

KS Aditya, a member of the Arise India Movement, said that apart from the self-defence programme as part of the Dharani Week, which aims to empower women and highlight issues pertaining to their rights, various programmes would be organised.

He said a short film would be screened at KS Auditorium in Hanumanthnagar on Monday, followed by a release of a case study on women empowerment. Two street plays will be staged on August 14 at Gopalan Mall and Namma Metro station on MG Road. The week-long event will culminate on August 15.