School tells girl students to grow nails for self-defence

The phrase lsquohitting the nail on the headrsquo has a whole new meaning now For perhaps the first time in the history of educational institutions Vidyanidhi School and Junior College at Vile Parle will not prohibit but instead encourage the practice of growing nails among its female students for the sake of selfdefence The school has decided to enrol all female students between Stds IV and XII in a selfdefence course in which they will be taught how to use arms legs and nails to defend themselves against assailants in the event of an attack Nailing it Vinod Koombang trainer from the Indian Fight Club demonstrates how nails can be used in selfdefence PicSatyajit Desai If yourrsquoe thinking long curling talons and nail art think again The students can only grow their nails an extra 1 millimetre mdash any longer and they will be prone to breakage defeating the purpose The course will be kickstarted on February 8 in course of which the girls will be taught techniques they could use on their assailants using their hands legs and nails Trainers from Indian Fight Club Versova have been roped in to impart lessons to the pupils Vinod Koombang trainer from the Indian Fight Club said ldquoThe girls can grow their nails just 1 millimetre long not more Nails longer than that will not help them but rather break when they try to defend themselves Even Shivaji used nails during warfare An individual can use nails in different ways when there is an attack on them We will teach basic nail techniques to girl students as also use of limbs Students above 11yearold can maintain slightly grown nails for their own safetyrdquo Dr Mehta trustee of Vidyanidhi School and Junior College said ldquoShivaji also used bagh nakh in his time and goddesses also keep long nails We are not encouraging the girls to grow their nails for fashion but for the safety of their own selves The techniques involving their nails will help them in future The girls can grow nails a little and not extremely long ones for fashion It is important to acquire these skills in this scenario where they are not saferdquo Priyanka Rajani principal of the institution said ldquoMost people think selfdefence and martial arts is synonymous but in truth selfdefence comprises a set of practical techniques that can be used to defend oneself This is the need of the hour We have martial arts in schools but keeping in mind the present scenario it is basic selfdefence tactics that need to be incorporated We are strictly against growing nails for fashion and of course hygiene has to be maintained Finger nails could be used as a weaponrdquo Docspeak Samir Dalwai developmental pediatrician said ldquoThe most important lesson in selfdefence is to be always alert An alert mind is more important than strong muscles Children must be taught to recognise potentially dangerous situations evaluate odds and have a safety network to get in touch withrdquo Parents respond If girls need to safeguard themselves from any assault in this scenario and if nails can be used to do that then there is no harm in growing them I appreciate that the school is going against its usual rules to help the female students mdash Sabah Parkar parent of a Std VI student of the school I have long nails but my daughters have never grown theirs If they learn nail techniques from the school and use them to defend themselves there is no harm in it I donrsquot mind my daughters growing them for their own safety In fact I too will encourage my daughters to grow their nails as the city is very unsafe mdash Bindu Panikar parent of Std XI and Std VII students of the school Itrsquos okay if the school wants to teach nail techniques in selfdefence to ensure the safety of students but the techniques should not be used for other purposes such as fights between students The girls should not grow their nails for fashion mdash Arundhati Chavan President Parent Teachers Association United forum