Self-defence courses in B-schools

Disaster management and physical fitness on curriculum to root out fear.

In the light of the terror attacks in Mumbai last week, B-schools in the city are looking to train students in self-defence. A training programme in disaster management skills may soon be a part of most B-school modules.

The schools also plan to include workshops to educate students on the toughness required to face and lead in dangerous situations. Martial arts will also be taught in B-schools.

Suresh Ghai, director, K J Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research, said: “We will have a training programme and a workshop for students to train them on how to cope in difficult times. We are planning to approach the municipal corporation’s disaster management cell for the same and are also looking at paramilitary forces for physical training.”

This kind of training, say B-schools, has never been imparted to students. The B-schools are also seeking help from the Mumbai Police to train students. Martial arts and military techniques will also will form part of the training.

AK Sengupta, director, SIES college of Management Studies, said: “In addition to creating business leaders, we also need to create leaders who can lead people in times of crisis. We are thinking of providing physical training to students.”

While the SIES plan to make this a compulsory subject for all the students, KJ Somaiya will organise a yearly workshop. “We could also do a refresher or practice session on the lessons learnt,” added Ghai.

In India, disaster management education is limited only to schools so far. According to a March 2008 report by Delhi-based Sustainable Environment and Ecological Development Society (SEEDS), the Ministry of Human Resource Development had recommended various school boards to incorporate Disaster Management in school curriculum.

The Central Board of Secondary Education has integrated a short course on Disaster management in school curriculum. Around 7,300 schools in the country follow the CBSE curriculum and almost 900,000 children are enroled with it.