With the aim of empowering the women in its workforce, the Kerala State Beverages Corporation (BEVCO) has decided to train them in self-defense tactics.
The initiative will benefit about 1,702 women members of BEVCO’s staff working at its outlets across Kerala. Already 1,590 women have undergone training on 1 December 2024.
This mandatory training has the support of the Kerala Police and is a step towards addressing the growing number of women’s harassment cases at the workplace. All women employed at BEVCO’s retail outlets, warehouses, and regional manager offices across Kerala are mandated to participated in the training session.
It is BEVCO’s wish to ensure that its women employees are equipped with the required skills to protect themselves in dangerous situations or be able to safeguard themselves in case of workplace harassment or assault.
The self-defense tactics taught during the session will allow women to protect themselves in case they are physically attacked or sexually harassed, or find themselves facing aggression in any form. The women were also taught 20 response techniques to protect or safeguard themselves from unexpected threats.
The initiative will help make the work environment safer for women.
The self-defense classes are being conducted by the Women’s Self-Defense Team, a wing of the Janamaitri Police that has been conducting such sessions for the past almost ten years.