In the backdrop of the gang-rape in Delhi, Rashtriya Sevika Samiti, the women’s wing of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has decided to impart training to female software and IT professionals and college-going girls in self-defence.
The Samiti runs nearly 300 shakhas (branches) all over the state, 150 of them just in the western parts of the state (15 districts in Telangana and Rayalaseema regions) including 60 in and around Hyderabad.
The Samiti organises special programmes for girls, housewives, working women and intellectual women. Recently, it has conducted a two-day camp which was attended by nearly 1,700 women. Enthused by the good response it has received, the Samiti has decided to expand its activities with special focus on IT women and college girls.
The Samiti is implementing a special programme, Disha, apart from weekend shakhas for IT women. Nearly 300 IT women are attending the shakhas regularly and the number is growing steadily. The Sevika Samiti is imparting training to women in Yoga, Karate, Judo and other self-defence arts at the regular shakhas, apart from promoting patriotism in them. “By conducting all these programmes the Sevika Samiti aims to inspire every family and to create a civilised and healthy society, claims a shakha organiser.
Sevika Samiti state secretary S Vijay Bharati told Express that their programmes were not publicity-oriented and therefore did not attract the attention of the media.
The Samiti strongly believed that it was time effective laws were introduced to check atrocities on women and it was collecting the opinions of women for submission to the government, she said.