Our Work
Empower HerLathi Kathi Self Defence for Girls
लाठी काठी प्रशिक्षण | संरक्षण मुलींचे आणि संस्कृतीचे
A traditional martial art of Maharashtra that builds safety, confidence and fitness. Free for schools, funded by sponsors and donors.
About Project
Lathi Kathi is a traditional martial art of Maharashtra, practised with sticks. Girls learn its skills step by step, on their own and in pairs, through steady daily practice under trained instructors. It needs little more than an open ground, can be taught to large groups, and keeps a proud part of our tradition and culture alive.
Empower Her is how Sankalp Abhinav Bharat Foundation brings this training to girls in schools. Through Project Lakshya, SAB Foundation trains rural youth of Ahilyanagar district for the Indian Army, Agniveer and Police Bharti. The Lathi Kathi program extends this work on fitness and confidence to adolescent girls in schools.
- For girls studying in Std 8 to Std 12
- Free for schools, funded by sponsors and donors
- 10 days of training, 2 hours a day, during school hours
- A final day demonstration and a certificate for every girl
Why it matters for girls
Training girls in Lathi Kathi builds their confidence, discipline and ability to protect themselves. It encourages them to stay alert about their own safety, and gives them a fitness habit they can carry into everyday life.
Benefits for Girls and Schools
Self Defence
Practical stick skills and awareness that help girls protect themselves.
Confidence
Girls grow bolder as they master new skills and perform them in public.
Discipline
Daily practice, focus and respect for the trainer and for each other.
Fitness
Physical agility, coordination, strength and stamina.
Teamwork
Partner drills and group routines build trust and cooperation.
Cultural Pride
A living link to the martial heritage of Maharashtra.
Certificate of completion: every girl who completes the training receives a certificate. For the school, the program is a meaningful activity for girls that ends with a proud public demonstration for parents and guests.
How the Program Works
FREE
Free for schools: there is no cost to the school. Sponsors and donors fund the training.
10 daysof training per school
2 hoursof training each day
School hourstraining only during school hours
60 girlsmaximum per batch
Each batch takes a maximum of 60 girls and ends with a demonstration by the girls on the final day. If your school has more girls who wish to join, running more than one batch is an option you can discuss with SAB Foundation. As our trainer travels from Pune, SAB Foundation plans the training for two schools at a time.
The school provides
- An open ground for daily training
- The girls, up to 60 per batch
- A mic system (sound system with a microphone)
- A female teacher who monitors every session
SAB Foundation provides
- Trained Lathi Kathi instructors for all 10 days
- Lathis (sticks) for every girl
- Planning of the daily training and the final day demonstration
- A certificate of completion for each girl
Target Geography and School Selection
The program is open to government schools only, from these areas:
- Ahilyanagar district
- Konkan region
- Pune city
Who can join: girls studying in Std 8 to Std 12.
How We Measure Outcomes
We check what changes for the girls in a simple way:
- A short survey of the girls before the training starts
- The same survey again after the training ends
- Questions on confidence and safety awareness
- Feedback from the teachers
How it works
Get in touch
Government schools in our target areas write to contact@sabindia.org to express interest and share the number of girls in Std 8 to Std 12.
Plan together
Agree on the dates and a daily slot within school hours, the ground and the female teacher.
Ten days of training
Two hours a day, SAB trainers teach the girls step by step.
Demonstration and certificates
On the final day the girls show their skills to parents and guests, and each girl receives her certificate. The girls then fill in the survey again.
Pilot Program: Shevgaon 2026
During Navratri, the festival of Shakti, SAB Foundation held Lathi Kathi Self Defence Training Camps for Girls (लाठी काठी प्रशिक्षण शिबिर) in Shevgaon, District Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra. While the festival celebrated the strength of the Goddess, these girls were building strength of their own.
| Duration | 6 days, 12 to 17 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Girls trained | 242 girls in two shifts |
| Morning shift | New Arts, Commerce and Science College, Shevgaon, with the college's NCC department. 167 girls from the college and from Residential Highschool and Jr College of Science, Shevgaon |
| Evening shift | Padmabhushan Balasaheb Bharde Highschool and Junior College, Shevgaon, as part of its Navratri celebrations. 75 girls |
| Closing day | 17 October 2026. Each shift held its own closing ceremony. The girls gave a demonstration in front of parents and guests, and every girl received a certificate |
The people behind the pilot
- Sensei Vishal Gadkari led the training, supported by Sainath Gayke, who also coordinated the camp.
- Dr. Purushottam Kunde, Vice Principal, New Arts, Commerce and Science College, presided over the morning shift closing ceremony, with Lt. Narayan Gore of the college's NCC department.
- Shri Umesh Bhalsing, social worker and promoter of the Adarsh Gaon concept, was chief guest at the evening shift ceremony.
- Principal Umesh Ghevarikar, Bharde Highschool, and all the teachers and staff encouraged the girls.
- SAB Foundation volunteer Indrajeet Deshmukh encouraged the girls to use what they learned to stay alert about their own safety.
From pilot to program
The pilot ran for 6 days. Building on what we learned, the program for schools now runs for 10 days, 2 hours a day, during school hours, so that every girl has more time to practise and gain confidence.
242Girls Trained in the Pilot
3Institutions Took Part
4Newspapers Covered the Camps
Gallery
In the News
The Shevgaon camps were reported in four newspapers: Sarvamat, Divya Marathi, Taji Khabare and Sakal.
Help More Girls Stand Strong
The Shevgaon pilot trained 242 girls from three institutions. Help us take this training to more schools.
₹60,000
sponsors two schools (120 girls). Each school gets one batch of 60 girls. SAB pairs two schools at a time because the trainer travels from Pune to the school location.
Annual goal for next year: ₹1,80,000 to train 360 girls in 6 schools (three pairs of schools at ₹60,000 per pair).
Ways to support
- Sponsor two schools for ₹60,000 (CSR partners and donors)
- Sponsor the full annual program of 6 schools for ₹1,80,000
- Individual donors can give any amount towards the training
| What your sponsorship covers | Amount |
|---|---|
| Lathis for 120 girls | ₹25,000 |
| Trainer fee for two batches, 10 days | ₹15,000 |
| Food and trainer stay | ₹10,000 |
| Miscellaneous (medical kit, transport and travel charges, etc.) | ₹10,000 |
| Total | ₹60,000 |
Donations to Sankalp Abhinav Bharat Foundation qualify for deduction under section 80G(5) of the Income Tax Act 1961. We accept donations only from Indian citizens and Indian registered entities (no foreign contributions).
Frequently Asked Questions
Have any Questions?
What is the Empower Her Lathi Kathi program?
Empower Her is a self defence training program for girls by Sankalp Abhinav Bharat Foundation. Girls learn Lathi Kathi, a traditional martial art of Maharashtra practised with sticks, step by step under trained instructors. The training builds safety, confidence and fitness, and keeps a proud part of our tradition and culture alive.
Does the school have to pay anything?
No. The training is free for schools. Sponsors and donors fund the training.
How long is the training?
Each school gets 10 days of training, 2 hours a day, only during school hours. On the final day the girls give a demonstration of their skills to parents and guests, and every girl who completes the training receives a certificate.
How many girls can join one batch?
Each batch takes a maximum of 60 girls. If your school has more girls who wish to join, running more than one batch is an option you can discuss with SAB Foundation.
Which schools can join the program?
The program is for government schools only, from Ahilyanagar district, the Konkan region and Pune city. It is for girls studying in Std 8 to Std 12. If you run or know a government school in these areas, write to us at contact@sabindia.org.
What does the school need to provide?
- An open ground for daily training
- The girls, up to 60 per batch
- A mic system (sound system with a microphone)
- A female teacher who monitors every session
SAB Foundation provides trained Lathi Kathi instructors for all 10 days, lathis (sticks) for every girl, planning of the daily training and the final day demonstration, and a certificate of completion for each girl.
Who trains the girls?
SAB Foundation provides trained Lathi Kathi instructors. In the Shevgaon pilot, Sensei Vishal Gadkari led the training, supported by Sainath Gayke, who also coordinated the camp. A female teacher from the school monitors every session.
Why does SAB Foundation train two schools at a time?
Our trainer travels from Pune to the school location, so SAB Foundation plans the training for two schools at a time. One pair of schools means two batches and up to 120 girls.
Where has the program been held so far?
The pilot was held in Shevgaon, District Ahilyanagar, from 12 to 17 October 2026, during Navratri. 242 girls were trained in two shifts at New Arts, Commerce and Science College (with its NCC department) and Padmabhushan Balasaheb Bharde Highschool and Junior College. Read the full story on our blog.
How do you measure the results?
The girls fill in a simple survey before and after the training. It asks about their confidence and their safety awareness, so we can see what has changed. We also collect feedback from the teachers.
How much does it cost to sponsor the training?
₹60,000 sponsors two schools (120 girls): lathis ₹25,000, trainer fee ₹15,000, food and trainer stay ₹10,000 and miscellaneous ₹10,000 (medical kit, transport and travel charges, etc.). Our annual goal for next year is ₹1,80,000 to train 360 girls in 6 schools. Individual donors can give any amount towards the training.
Is my donation eligible for tax benefit?
Yes. Donations to Sankalp Abhinav Bharat Foundation qualify for deduction under section 80G(5) of the Income Tax Act 1961. We accept donations only from Indian citizens and Indian registered entities (no foreign contributions). Certificates and audit reports are on our Compliance page.
Where can I find more details about the program?
You can find the objectives, program design, pilot results and budget in our official CSR proposal. Proposal Link: Empower Her Lathi Kathi CSR Proposal (PDF)
For additional information or clarifications, please feel free to contact us at contact@sabindia.org.
How can you contribute?
You can help by donating, by sponsoring a pair of schools, or by connecting us with people who are willing to support this cause.
- Host: Invite us to train the girls at your government school in Ahilyanagar district, the Konkan region or Pune city.
- Refer: Help us reach out to CSR representatives or key decision makers in your network.
- Share: Spread the word within your organisation or social groups.
- Volunteer: Join hands with us in planning or running on ground activities.
Together, let us help every girl stand strong.
Schools, donors and CSR partners, write to us at contact@sabindia.org