The global '#MeToo' campaign helped several women to expose their abusers. In Kerala too this online campaign made an impact and now a former teacher is all set to launch a 'NeverMe' drive in the state to promote awareness so that girls minimise or eliminate chances of harassment or assault.
While the hashtag-based popular online campaign against sexual exploitation aimed to expose perpetrators of the crime, 'NeverMe' aims to raise awareness so that one doesn't become a victim.
Monamma Kokkad, a retired professor and a former member of the Kerala State Women's Commission, has come up with this project.
“Every girl must grow with the awareness that she will never be a victim but instead she will protect herself,” said the retired English teacher.
“If one avoids a situation where one doesn't become a victim, there would not be a need for a #MeToo campaign" Monamma stressed.
She also noted that many girls face dangerous situations due to lack of awareness. This realisation led to the launch of 'NeverMe'.
The campaign will be run in all parts of Kerala. Primarily, it will be run in schools initially and later it will be promoted in colleges.
Lady teachers and trained professionals would be roped in for this offline campaign.
Coordinators would be selected from all the districts. The selected members will then be given training through WhatsApp and later these coordinators would conduct awareness programmes in schools. They would also persuade schools to teach martial arts to students. They would also spread awareness through posters and stickers.
“This campaign would be launched by June and it would be merged into the school curriculum with the support of school authorities,” said Monamma.
