[Legacy Report] Self Defence Training & Awareness Workshop for Women in Engineering at GLA University, Mathura

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A one day workshop sponsored by IEEE WIE (Women in Engineering) on “Self Defence Training and Awareness for Women in Engineering” was organized in GLA University, Mathura on December 8, 2014.

One hundred and thirty women students from various branches of Engineering participated in the workshop. Many young faculty lady members also joined the workshop. Prof. Charul Bhatnagar and Dr. Dilip Kumar Sharma were the Conveners of the Workshop. The First Session had talks by eminent people committed to the cause of safety of women. In the Second Session expert trainers trained the students on Self Defense Techniques.

Prof. Charul Bhatnagar, Presiding Officer of Internal Complaints Committee, GLA University, educated the students on the Constitutional Provisions against Sexual Harassment and what should be done if any such incident occurs.

Dr. Rachna Rastogi took a session in which she enlightened the students about the situations that could likely lead to sexual harassment and behavior that provoke men to take such steps. She told that sexual harassment could occur at any place - be it work place, institution or public place. Women were urged to maintain their confidence to tackle such situations. Dr. Rachna concluded her session by a questionnaire round in which she had asked several questions to the students in which there was an active participation from students.

Ms. Shiva Durga gave a very fascinating session by comparing women with men. She told a number of stories where the women had bravely fought for their rights. She gave some simple and practical tips to the girls about what to do in unsafe situations.

The final year students conducted a game. The students had to tell what they would do in the following situations:

1. Suppose you are returning from your work place by a cab. All of a sudden the driver increases the speed of the cab and is moves towards a lonely and dark spot.
2. If you are travelling in a metro at night and it is the last metro. Unfortunately you missed your stop and reached the last station. There are only two three men on the station.

Students actively participated in the game. Ms Shravya Goel of B.Tech (EC) 4^th year and Ms. Fakeha Moin of B.Tech (EC) 3^rd year won prizes for their very apt answers.

Mr. Ravi and Mr. Saurabh, demonstrated how to tackle situations like when someone catches you from behind, holds knife to your throat etc. The girls then formed groups of two and practiced the moves. It was a fun filled session where the girls learnt many techniques of self defense.

The speakers and the trainers were presented mementoes by the Prof A S Jalal, Head of Department of Computer Engineering and Applications and Dr Dilip Kumar Sharma, Convener of Workshop. All the participants were given Certificates. Ms. Jyoti Bajpai, Ms. Deepali Singh and Ms.Gunjan Bhartiya worked very hard to organize the workshop. The workshop ended with a small party.

Comments of some of the students who participated in the workshop:

• Charul Mittal, B.Tech (CSE) Final Year: very helpful workshop and very thankful to our conveners for organizing this kind of workshop.
• Kanika Aggarwal, B.Tech (CSE) Final Year: learned several techniques taught by the trainers.
• Varsha Singh, B.Tech (EEE) Final Year: very knowledgeable workshop; such kind of workshops must be conducted in every institution to make the girls realize that they can fight against such situations very easily; the only thing is to gain some confidence and learn some techniques to tackle with it.

Prerna Chaudhary, M.Tech (CSE) Final Year: very erudite workshop and highly inspired by the examples of “Bhagvad Gita” . the girls have their image as a mirror, which once broken cannot be repaired at any cost, so to maintain this, we have to fight up to highest extent and to do so, we must have confidence in ourselves, which this workshop had made us learn very effectively.

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