Kerala - Kochi

An antidote to violence

KOCHI: How essential it is to revive the teachings of Gandhiji, especially his principle of ahimsa, was in focus after the recent violence on a college campus at Changanassery, which led to the death of a police official.

It is in this context that the attempt to form peace groups in the State’s schools and colleges by the Cultural Academy for Peace and the Asia Regional Desk of Women Peacemaker Programme assumes significance.

The project will be initially launched in the State and later launched across the country. Two members from each class will be elected as peace ambassadors, said Beena Sebastian, Executive Director of the academy.

Two staff from each educational institution will be in charge of the peace groups so as to maintain continuity in the programme even after the members of the group pass out of the institution, she said.

“We aim at giving a definite shape to the concept of peace by imparting training in non-violence education programmes and conflict management and mediation skills,” she said.

Training sessions will begin at the academy’s training centre next month. A meeting of the stakeholders will be convened before the programme is launched.

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