Will training on how to handle weapons make girls more confident and courageous? What do you think? It is a matter of fact that any form of martial arts training does instil confidence in girls. The gruelling process of training for years is enough to imbibe in them discipline, both physical and mental strength, and the self-belief that they are equipped better to deal with any kind of attack on them.
So, will knowing how to handle a revolver or a gun enhance the confidence and self-belief even more? Senior Indian Revenue Service officer Nethrapal certainly believes so. In a new post on social media platform X, he has mentioned weapon training as a tool to instil courage and fearlessness in “our daughters”.
To drive home his point, he has posted a photo of senior Indian Police Service officer R Sudhakar, currently posted in Chennai, where the officer is seen teaching young girls how to handle and operate a gun.
When Indian Masterminds got in touch with Mr. Sudhakar, he said that this actually happened when he was posted in Coimbatore. “I was IG then. We initiated a project called ‘Pakkikoodam’. We went to all schools in Phase 1 and interacted with the students, mainly for child safety and child abuse. In Phase 2, the girl students interacted with me, DIG, and SP, and we gave them hands-on experiences on handling police weapons and a little firing. Basically, it was a confidence-building measure.”
Lauding Mr. Sudhakar’s innovative step, Mr. Nethrapal said that such practical solutions are much required at the ground level. He told Indian Masterminds, “It’s a perception that you are weak. It’s a perception that you can’t do something because society says that you are not fit. A mental block and an artificial imagery have been created that women cannot excel in jobs like police and army. When training like this is given, it actually removes the mental block and creates a positive imagery that nothing is impossible.”
Know more from his X post:
How do we make our daughters fearless and courageous?
— Nethrapal (@nethrapal) March 13, 2024
You may be wondering how the photo is related to this.
There is a relationship. @R_Sudhakar_Ips, my own co-brother, wanted to instil courage in the girl child. He thought that the best way is to allow them to handle… pic.twitter.com/qgmqLJIPvE