Self-defence expert and former US Marine Melissa Lee Ohm, who was visiting Pune for the launch of personal safety apps, tells Tania Roy how we need to have a more holistic approach to women’s safety

If you’ve ever wanted to meet a true kick-ass girl, here’s one. Meet Melissa Lee Ohm, a former US Marine. A war veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, she was stationed in Baghdad in 2003. “We were building the new Iraqi Army and it was one of the best experiences. The camaraderie and teamwork among the marines were great. I thoroughly enjoyed my work,” says Melissa who was in Pune for the launch of mobile apps for women’s safety.

Recently, Pune-based SmartCloud Infotech launched two personal safety apps — Stamp (which alerts the user about safe and unsafe areas) and SmartCommute (which ensures employee commuting safety, which helps track employees and cabs during regular commutes) — as part of their Nirbhaya app, which was launched last January.

Along with other experts, SmartCloud has roped in Melissa to use her expertise in self-defence. As Founder and CEO of STaND, which is based in Gurgaon, Melissa has been providing self-defence training and sexual harassment prevention consulting. The services include Corporate Sexual Harassment Prevention, Corporate and Group Self-defence Courses, Employee Development / Leadership Training, Human Resources Victim Sensitivity Training, Victims Advocacy Unit Training, Third Party Counselling Service Support for Sexual Harassment Prevention Programmes, and Community / Organisation Enhancement Strategies.

“I started my enterprise about a year ago and I have been working with corporates and organisations, apprising them of various laws and policies, like the sexual harassment policy, discrimination policy, transportation policy and so on. That said, I am not here to point fingers at corporates for not following policies. Rather I try to study the strengths and weaknesses of organisations, and then try to expand the strengths and minimise the weaknesses. However, every organisation must strive to become more socially responsible and the community and society as a whole should contribute towards women’s safety,” explains Melissa.

A full-time entrepreneur, Melissa, who came to India in 2004, has specialised in early childhood development and contributes towards physical, social and emotional development of kids. She also coaches adult learners, teaching psychology and critical thinking in a few institutes. An Adjunct Faculty at Modi Academic International Institute, she has worked in the US Embassy in the past as an educational psychologist.

A major part of self-defence training involves training the mind. “I was teaching a group of women who could not initially do push-ups or planks. As I started training them, I constantly told them that they were fighting for their life and therefore must not let go of their strength. At the end of the training, a few of them could do planks for almost 4 minutes, which was remarkable,” says Melissa who also offers training in personality development. “We teach individuals how to be confident because confidence makes you a better individual, better professional, better homemaker…,” adds the mother of two, who has made India her home and enjoys cricket, especially IPL, and travelling to different parts of the country as much as her daughters do.

QUICK TIPS ON WOMEN’S SAFETY

MELISSA SHARES A FEW SAFETY TIPS…

– When walking on the road, walk on the side of oncoming traffic.

– Don’t walk and text messages on mobile. Be alert and aware of your surroundings.

– If someone provokes you, don’t lose your calm. Take a step back, keep your cool and do not panic. Usually 9 out of 10 women panic but the idea is to stay calm and think, and be confident.

– Trust your instincts. If you feel insecure or intimidated when walking on the street, try entering a shop or move to a place which is less deserted or dark.

– Try to keep your keys within your fingers and the pepper spray in your purse. But learn how to spray before you actually try it on someone.

– Download safety apps and carry your mobile in such a way that you can readily press the apps button.

A SALUTE TO THE BRAVEHEARTS

Singer-actor Monali Thakur, who is making her debut in Bollywood with Nagesh Kukunoor’s film Lakshmi to be premiered on January 17, was also present at the launch of the safety app, SmartCommute. Appreciating the initiative and promoting her film, Monali, who is playing the brave 14-year-old Lakshmi in the film, says, “While most of us may feel hopeless living in a society where humans are forced into the sex trade and brutally assaulted and beaten, it also feels good to hear stories of courage and strength — of brave girls who have made an effort to fight injustice and break free from the dark world. Lakshmi tells such inspiring stories. It’s a small budget film made with a lot of love and passion and highlights the problem of human trafficking.”