New Delhi, Mar 1 (IANS): The human resource development (HRD) ministry has written to states asking them to ensure that self-defence training is part of the physical education curriculum for girls in schools, the Rajya Sabha was informed Friday.

"The ministry wrote to all education secretaries in the states in January, saying specifically, from the upper primary level, physical training classes should include self defence for girls," Minister of State for HRD Shashi Tharoor said during question hour.

"This is indeed a very legitimate concern," he said, adding that physical education should be for both genders. nce should be included," he said.

Responding to a supplementary question on moral education in schools, HRD Minister M.M. Pallam Raju said government was taking it very seriously.

"The demographic profile that we have today can be converted into a advantage with moral values education," Raju said.

Tharoor added: "In November last year the minister launched a new values education kit that would cover respect for environment, gender, the kind of values people need to abide by living in modern society."