‘Har Ghar Durga’: Ahead Of Navratri, Maharashtra Announces Self-Defence Campaign For Women

With Navratri around the corner, Cabinet Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha has announced a new initiative to empower women in Maharashtra — ‘Har Ghar Durga’ (A Durga in Every Home). Under the programme, free self-defence training will be provided to young women studying in state-run industrial institutions (ITI).

“As we prepare to celebrate Navratri, a festival dedicated to Goddess Durga, the symbol of power and the destroyer of evil, we want to ensure that every household in our society has a strong and empowered Durga who can fight against the wrongdoers. This is the spirit behind our ‘Har Ghar Durga’ campaign,” Lodha told News18.

Unlike temporary programmes, this training will be ongoing, with classes conducted two-three per week throughout the year. Lodha emphasised that this initiative wasn’t limited to students in government institutes. “Any woman who wishes to learn self-defence is welcome to participate,” he said.

The official launch of ‘Har Ghar Durga’ will take place on September 30 at the Government Industrial Institute in Kurla, with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla leading the ceremony. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, along with Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, will be present at the event. Actress Ada Sharma, known for her role in The Kerala Story, will also be present.

“We have appointed expert instructors to conduct these self-defence classes. The idea is to make self-defence as regular and integral as any other subject taught in these institutions,” Lodha said. He went on to explain that this initiative was born from his vision to ensure women are equipped with the skills they need to protect themselves and feel empowered.

In the spirit of Navratri, Lodha has also called on festival committees to integrate self-defence workshops into their celebrations. “This is a festival dedicated to the power and strength of women. It’s only fitting that we celebrate it by empowering our women in a tangible way. We are ready to provide trained instructors to any committee in Mumbai or Thane that wants to hold such workshops during the festivities,” he said.

Moreover, the state cabinet recently approved the renaming of 14 Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) across Maharashtra. The Government Industrial Institute in Kurla will now be known as Maharana Pratap Government Industrial Institute. Also, a state-of-the-art Digital Excellence Center, set up in collaboration with HP at the Swami Vivekananda International Skill Development Institute, will be inaugurated by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla during the event.