Sachin bats for the cause of women

Mumbai (PTI) - Sachin Tendulkar will now lend help in preventing domestic violence against women. The International Centre for Research on Women (ICRW) in collaboration with the Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF), Mumbai School Sports Association (MSSA) and Apanalya and with the financial support from NIKE Foundation launched 'Parivartan'.

'Parivartan' will use cricket as a medium to teach boys how to be respectful towards women which in turn will help reduce violence against women and the project, on the lines of the famous American programme 'Coaching Boys Into Men' has been endorsed by Tendulkar.

In a letter to the coaches of 25 schools, Tendulkar said: "Winning a match is important for a coach but a big part of the job is helping to develop a solid, responsible young player who is able to become an upstanding citizen."

The senior batsman said: "Parivartan will use India's most popular sport to teach boys how to be respectful towards women and, in turn, help reduce violence against women."

Delhi-based ICRW, along with other city-based NGOs aims to cultivate gender equity and reduce gender-based violence.

"Sachin was very keen to launch the programme himself but due to IPL schedules he is unable to make it," ICRW's Regional Director, Asia Research Office, Ravi Varma said.

To help stop violence and harassment of women and girls, ICRW and its partners aim to engage cricket coaches who will pass on the message to over 1,000 budding and aspiring cricketers through training programmes.

"Given the popularity of cricket in India we intend to present an important and compelling message through it. With the help of coaches we intend to change inequitable gender attitudes and behaviours," Varma said.

The coaches will teach them how not to use foul language while talking to a woman, how not to carry aggression back home and how to respect women both inside and outside their homes, he said.

Coaches are being trained in Mumbai on how to identify teachable moments on the field where they can point out inappropriate language and behaviour and explain how to change them.