Pens, clips, and spoons: How ABVP is training Bengal women in self-defence

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) is conducting a three-day women's self-defence training camp in Kolkata, aiming to empower women with the skills to protect themselves. The event, named Mission Sahasi, will run from November 14 to 16 at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. Following the camp, instructors will travel to schools and colleges across ABVP's 20 organisational districts in South Bengal until December 22.

The training, organized by ABVP's South Bengal function, includes both indoor and outdoor components, teaching techniques using everyday items and addressing mental health, cybersecurity, and legal awareness.

Mission Sahasi was first launched in Mumbai in 2018, with the guidance of self-defense expert Shifuji Shaurya Bharadwaj. In 2024, the camp will be held under the supervision of Sunita Mundekar, a seasoned trainer who previously led similar programmes in other states. Senior ABVP official Shalini Verma will serve as the chief guest.

ABVP South Bengal state secretary Neelkantha Bhattacharya emphasizes the importance of empowering women to protect themselves, highlighting the need for confidence and courage in today's world. The initiative aims to create courageous, self-reliant, and confident female students, as opposed to merely promising security. In contrast, Debanjan Dey, SFI's state secretary for West Bengal, criticizes ABVP's programme, questioning whether it addresses critical issues such as child marriage, human trafficking, and campus safety.

Dey argues that while ABVP offers self-defense training, it fails to tackle the root causes of women's vulnerabilities, instead promoting conservative values that he believes hinder girls' education.