West Bengal

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; Siliguri, October 29: The growing concerns over women’s safety across the country, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has announced a special initiative aimed at empowering female students with practical self-defence skills, confidence and greater awareness of personal safety. Under its ‘Mission Courageous’ programme, the organisation’s North Bengal unit will organise a three-day residential self-defence training camp from October 31 to November 2 at the Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram in Salbari, Siliguri.

The programme was announced by ABVP’s state leadership during a press conference held at the organisation’s office in Siliguri on Thursday. The initiative seeks to equip young women with basic techniques to respond to threatening situations and help spread awareness about self-defence across educational institutions in North Bengal.

According to the organisers, selected female students from schools, colleges and universities across 12 organisational districts of North Bengal will participate in the residential training camp. The programme is designed to provide practical knowledge that participants can use in emergency situations, with an emphasis on techniques that do not require specialised weapons or heavy equipment.

One of the key features of ‘Mission Courageous’ is the use of everyday objects for self-protection. Participants will be taught practical methods of using commonly available items such as dupattas, hair clips and pens to respond to potential threats. The training aims to familiarise students with basic self-defence techniques and encourage them to remain alert and confident when faced with difficult situations.

The initiative also has a wider outreach plan. After completing the training, the participating students will return to their respective districts and work as master trainers, sharing their knowledge with other female students in schools, colleges and universities. Through this model, ABVP hopes to extend the programme beyond the central training camp and reach thousands of students across North Bengal.

The organisers believe that training selected students to educate others will help create a broader network of self-defence awareness within educational institutions. By encouraging students to pass on their skills and knowledge, the initiative aims to promote a culture of preparedness, confidence and personal safety among young women.

The programme comes at a time when women’s safety remains a significant public concern. While self-defence training can help individuals respond to certain threatening situations, the broader objective of such initiatives is also to encourage awareness, preparedness and confidence. The organisers have positioned ‘Mission Courageous’ as an effort to make these skills more accessible to female students across the region.

Several ABVP representatives were present at Thursday’s press conference, including Puja Ram, a member of the organisation’s National Executive Committee and the state head of its girls’ activities; Aditi Biswas, state joint secretary; Susmita Adhikari, convenor of the Rashtriya Kala Manch; and Sneha Rai.

With the three-day camp scheduled to begin on October 31, the ABVP’s North Bengal unit is preparing to bring together selected students for focused training before they take the programme back to their respective districts. The initiative aims to spread the message that awareness, confidence and basic self-defence skills can play an important role in helping young women prepare for challenging situations.

Best Headline Options

1. ABVP’s ‘Mission Courageous’ to Empower Women, Three-Day Self-Defence Camp in Siliguri

2. From Dupattas to Pens: ABVP’s Unique Self-Defence Training Initiative for Girls in North Bengal

3. Women’s Safety in Focus: ABVP to Train Female Students at Siliguri Camp

4. ABVP Plans Self-Defence Training for Girls Across 12 North Bengal Districts

5. ‘Mission Courageous’: ABVP Aims to Reach Thousands of Students Through Self-Defence Training