10 lakh girls to be trained in martial arts

HYDERABAD: The department of school education under Rashtriya Madhyamik Siksha Abhiyan (RMSA) is mulling teaching martial arts and karate to over 10 lakh girl students of government schools across the state.The government would invest Rs. 3.11 crore for the three-month long self-defence programme.Speaking to Express RMSA director, R Satyanarayana said that they have been preparing the modalities for the programme during this academic year itself.The girls will have to attend two classes per week as a part of the three-month programme under a trained instructor.The physical education department officials have been holding talks with karate and martial arts district associations to rope in instructors.A instructor must at least hold a green belt to teach the girls, the officials said.Each instructor would be paid Rs. 3,000 for 24 classes in each school and the same instructor can teach in up to three schools.Apart from the self-defence programme, the RMSA is also introducing a self-empowerment programme for school dropouts.Satyanarayana said they have selected 150 gram panchayats for the programme and invest about rs. 3,800 on each panchayat.The school education department is taking up various development works in the schools across the state during the current financial year at a cost of Rs. 1,440 crore.The Centre is bearing 75 per cent of the funds and the remaining 25 per cent would be borne by the state government