India isn’t a secure united state of America for girls. Umpteen data and reviews display this, and the rising instances of violence, attacks, and rapes throughout the kingdom have created an ecosystem of worry inside the minds of girls and women. To exchange this mindset, Ishita Sharma, an actor-cum-martial artist, commenced MukkaMaar, a Mumbai-based totally enterprise that trains college students in exceptional sorts of martial artwork, self-defense techniques, and mental power physical games. According to the International Men and Gender Equality Survey (IMAGES), a staggering 24 percent of Indian guys have admitted to conducting sexual violence sooner or later of time in their lives. A 2016 file by way of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) stated that extra than four.4 lakh women and children have been victims of attack and cruelty, in that 12 months. However, this number is best restricted to registered cases; it might be much better if unreported cases were taken into account.
MukkaMaar, a Mumbai-based non-governmental organization (NGO) installed via Ishita Sharma in 2018, is making an attempt to deliver alternate in this area by taking prompt and powerful steps to prevent violence against girls. Her organization trains college students belonging to Class 6, 7, and 8 in specific types of martial artwork, self-defense strategies, as well as, mental power exercises.
The 3-12 months, free-of-cost engagement program focuses on a couple of components surrounding bodily health, emotional stability, sensitization closer to abuse, unity, and felony recommend. MukkaMaar has empowered and touched the lives of a whopping 3,000 girls throughout forty-seven schools in Mumbai, in a span of 12 months.
“Being a Kung Fu practitioner myself, I know the electricity that self-defense holds, especially in terms of women. It brings self-assurance and courage, allows destroy unfastened from the shackles of gender-based violence. I set up MukkaMaar to ensure simply that,” says Ishita Sharma, Founder and Managing Trustee, MukkaMaar.
The inception of MukkaMaar
Ishita is an actor-cum-martial artist, who has featured in the magical drama series, ‘Shaka Laka Boom Boom’ and in movies like ‘Loins of Punjab Presents.’
The seed of MukkaMaar was sown after Ishita watched a documentary titled ‘Daughters of Mother India’ that highlighted the aftermath of the rape and death of a 23-yr-antique clinical intern in 2012 in Delhi. The documentary left her shaken and stressed, and she or he wanted to do her bit to preclude horrific acts like molestation and rape.
Since Ishita has herself experienced the power and liberation that comes with combating again, she desired to help different women inculcate the same mind-set. And as a consequence, MukkaMaar becomes born.
“I still remember the day once I become chased via a group of men whilst using down domestic in my vehicle. Instead of getting scared and attempting to get away, I rolled down my window and raised my voice towards them. In a depend on a few seconds, they have been nowhere to be visible. This incident saved going for walks in my mind after watching the documentary. So, I determined to share what I felt with humans through MukkaMaar,” Ishita remembers.
Though MukkaMaar officially got here into life in 2018, Ishita commenced working on placing it up two years prior to it. She marked the inception through establishing an unfastened self-defense consultation for a small organization of women at Versova Beach, Mumbai. Within a few months, the variety grew from 5 to one hundred. By 2017, some of the ladies commenced coming into several district and state-level competitions or even gained.
“At that juncture, I realized the capability of creating women stronger and teaching them self-defense. I made some adjustments to the supplying and improved operations,” Ishita notes.
An endeavor towards a higher tomorrow
MukkaMaar has collaborated with colleges throughout the town with the assist of the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) to educate ladies in self-defense. The drill is included in the college curriculum, in which and classes are held for 2-hours each week.
With greater than 14 running shoes, MukkaMaar not most effective teaches students physical health and blended martial arts like Kung Fu, Karate and Kalaripayattu, however additionally trains them in unique techniques they can use when attacked or tied down. This consists of blocks, punches, kicks, knee attacks, grappling, holds, locks, throws, etc. However, this isn’t always all.