SANTOSH NAIK
PONDA: The whole of India is stunned and saddened by the rape and murder of a Hyderabad-based veterinarian by four men, even as a debate is raging in the media as to whether the killing of the accused in an “encounter” was justified.
And to gauge the opinions of the public in Goa on how to prevent such heinous crimes, Herald spoke to a wide range of people. The interviews have revealed that the public favours self defence training to girls in schools to prevent such crimes. The interviewees included headmasters, parents and teachers.
They suggested that self defence training such as karate and judo should be introduced in schools for girl students. “While the law takes its own course to render justice to the victims of rape and murder, the best option before the government to curb this crime is to introduce self defence training to girls in every school,” a headmaster said.
“It’s high time now for the government to soon take decision on it. We can’t take a decision on our own; it should come from the Education Department. There would be no fund burden as physical trainers are already there in every school. Only need to train them with self defence skills,” he said.
“Girls becoming doctors and engineers are of no use, unless they know some defence skills. It is the same world and gone are the days of past when women was staying at home cooking and looking after children. Now she does a verity of jobs; some come even late at night from work. Hence, self defence skill is required,” a parent said.
Vishal Fadte, a social worker from Ponda, said that girls don’t get help in time of need. “Police, relatives, friends or any public don’t come to the help of a woman when she is in dire need of the same,” he said.
“In such situation they must be equipped themselves with self defence skills, so that, by the time the police or their relatives arrive, the girls can keep the criminals at bay,” he said.
Sandesh Naik, a parent from Marcaim, said that Jansi ki Rani Laxmibai was skilled in wielding sword; she fought the British to save her kingdom. Hence women should learn self defence skills to keep themselves safe from sexual predators.
