For, female students of all the 1,000-odd Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation schools between Classes V and VII will be given training in karate and judo, with an aim to add a new facet to the personality of these girls, who mainly belong to the middle and lower classes and slum areas.

The decision was taken last month at a meeting of officials of the state’s Education Department, the state’s Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan cell and civic officials. “The state government is very keen on imparting karate training to girl students. Accordingly, we will start the process once classes begin,” said deputy education officer Abasaheb Jadhav.

The training will be a part of the ‘personality development programme’ under the all-India Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.

At the meeting, officials discussed a number of initiatives for girl students, including lectures by renowned women from various fields. The BMC also plans to launch this programme, but in a later phase. Jadhav said that beginning June, karate classes will start in civic schools.

However, the main problem for the civic body will be to find trainers and enough space within the school premises for the training sessions. “Wherever we find space in the school premises, we will start the classes immediately. Finding trainers will also be difficult, so the course will begin first in areas where there are large premises of civic schools and availability of trainers,” he said. The BMC is hoping to start the course in at least five schools in each of the 24 civic administrative wards.

The expenditure for the training is estimated at anywhere between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1 crore for the year, depending on the number of girl students enrollment. The main cost components would be uniforms for the girls and salaries for the trainers. The training will be completely funded under the SSA and will be free of cost for students.

“It is a major challenge to impart this training, since we have approximately 1 lakh students from Class V to VII who will be eligible,” Jadhav said.