Why Iron Butterflies
A community-led program in Kolkata teaching martial arts and situational awareness to school and college girls—building confidence, preparedness, and early threat recognition.
Background and Need
Iron Butterfly is launched to address urgent safety concerns for women and girls in Kolkata—especially in response to disturbing sexual assault cases like the Abhaya case and the RG Kar Medical College incident. The project empowers school and college girls through martial arts training for defense and confidence-building.
- India records around 86 rape cases per day (2022), with increasing brutality despite legal reforms.
- Kolkata, while the “safest” among metros by official numbers, has had high-profile cases revealing deep-rooted issues in women’s safety.
- Most cases are committed by people known to the victim—threats often come from within the social circle.
- The RG Kar Medical College case (2024) shows how even “respectable” institutions can become sites of grave sexual violence.
- A 31-year-old doctor at RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata, was sexually assaulted and killed in a hospital seminar room.
- The perpetrator, a hospital volunteer, was arrested amid widespread public outrage.
- The incident highlighted severe systemic failures in protecting professional women, even in seemingly secure spaces.
Statistical Overview (India-wide)
| Year | Registered Rape Cases | Daily Average |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 28,046 | 77 |
| 2021 | 31,677 | 87 |
| 2022 | 31,516 | 86 |
National Rape Rate (2022): 5 per lakh (100,000) population.
89% of rapes were committed by persons known to the victim.
Key Insights: Why Iron Butterfly is Essential
- Rising Awareness but Persistent Danger: Despite legal reforms and fast-track courts, reported rape cases remain high and conviction rates are low. Lack of proper law enforcement is often cited.
- Systemic and Social Challenges: High-profile and “rare” cases in Kolkata shatter the myth of safety; lack of fear of law among perpetrators and poor policing aggravate the crisis.
- Empowerment Through Self-Defense: Training girls in martial arts gives practical tools for protection while boosting confidence and agency.
- Inspiration from Real Cases: Every reported rape underscores societal failure and the urgent need for collective action—transforming fear into strength through self-defense education.
The Iron Butterfly Mission
Iron Butterfly is not just a project—it is a movement born out of harsh realities and the resilience of survivors. By equipping young girls with martial arts skills, we invest in a future where safety, self-belief, and independence are every girl’s right and reality.