Sex Education in India

What is Sex Education?

Sex education educates and informs young individuals about a variety of topics which are related to sex and sexuality. It includes age of consent, safe sex, birth control, sexual abstinence, human sexual anatomy, sexual activity, reproductive rights and reproductive health. Such education is received from caregivers or parents, schools, public health campaigns or online in various scenarios.

Adolescents go through various physical changes when they hit puberty, and in various cases they end up being embarrassed due to lack of information regarding such changes. These changes make them insecure and vulnerable to low self-esteem. Sex education clears such doubts and confusion by informing them beforehand of what is to come. It has been seen that when they are provided proper guidance and support, they tend not to resort to pornography or random sites on the internet to learn more about their own bodies and most importantly, they learn to respect each other and themselves.

Categories of Sex Education in India 

The three categories of sex education in India are as follows: -

1. Sex Education Courses for Adolescents,

2. Family planning for adults, and obstacles

3. HIV/AIDS Prevention Education

Sex Education Courses for Adolescents 

Young individuals get extremely curious when topics related to sex is the matter in question and parents are the individuals they are near with whom they can attempt to clear their uncertainty with. But parents in most cases are reluctant to answer such questions because of the stigma associated with the topic and parents often feel that talking about sex is embarrassing and dirty.

The teachers also hold similar attitude. Some examples of this kind behaviour were seen when the National Council of Educational Research and Training initiated sex education, they made it as a part of the existing syllabus rather than a separate subject altogether. However, the teachers avoided teaching those topics. Though NGOs and local schools are trying their best to educate adolescents regarding sex education but if teachers willingly skip topics then such initiatives will remain half done.

Obstacles

Sex education has faced some severe obstacles, specifically for adolescents. India’s Ministry of Human Resource Development in 2007 promoted a sex education curriculum which faced severe criticism. Many people believed that such education will corrupt the young minds and hamper the traditional Indian values. Further, they believed that such a step will lead to irresponsible behaviour and this concept of sex education is a western construct which was being forced upon India. Such arguments cause states like Rajasthan, Goa, Karnataka, Gujrat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh to ban sex education program.

In April 2007, the Karnataka Minister for Primary and Secondary Education stated that such program has been put on hold after repetitive complains from teachers. Some teachers believe that the reason such program was included in the syllabus is to promote the sale of condoms and it was also sexually provocative.

In May 2007, the Chief Minister of Rajasthan wrote a letter to the Union Minister of Human Resource Development stating that the children of Class IX and XI did not need sex education as they are in the early stages of puberty and further added that they already have a life skill course called Jeevan Shaili which was sufficient.

In July 2009, a teacher’s association in Uttar Pradesh protested against the said sex education course stating that it would result in embarrassing questions from students and if such course is not withdrawn then they would burn the books.

The obstacles of sex education for adolescents can be overcome if the Government and the NGOs are willing to work together and create a curriculum which is acceptable to the schools and the community.

Family planning for Adults

The 1970s was called India’s Emergency period and during such time the government implemented a policy to control population which was specifically targeted to the lower-caste individuals. India was incentivised to create a program which influenced the lower-case individuals to not have children. But unfortunately programs were shut down due to the coercive techniques that were used and the lack of hygiene associated with the procedures.

India’s family planning programmes are mainly run by the government with the help of the NGOs. Programmes like the Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA), encourages family planning through sterilisation as well as encourages women to register pregnancies and visit local health centres. Asha also gives out free birth control pills and condoms which removes the stigma of buying contraceptives at drug stores. Additionally, they hold meetings and raise awareness on topics such as women’s health, social determinants of health, nutrition and sanitation.

Obstacles

First, India’s family planning program does not show good results because it does not stop women from marrying early or from spacing their pregnancies. Second, it has been said that the program does not consider the psyche of women who often goes through irreversible procedures like sterilisation as it does not provide regular follow-ups.

HIV/AIDS Prevention Education

In India, HIV/AIDS has been deemed a health crisis so the government has given priority to prevention techniques and has been pushing NGOs to implement programmes that focus on training, outreach and support.

A study was conducted in Tamil Nadu on AIDS/STDs and it was extremely surprising to see that only 12% of women and 26% of men attending were aware of AIDS. It was concluded that mass media has been more effective at disseminating information about HIV/AIDS than the radio.

Another survey done in 2008 was conducted among 11th and 12th class girls (aged 14-19) in South Delhi, showed that 71% had no knowledge about the effects of genital herpes, 43% were unaware of the effects of syphilis and 28% had no knowledge what gonorrhoea and STD was. The major source of information about STDs and safe sex among the girls were their friends, books, media, magazines and internet.

Obstacles

There are very few obstacles regarding HIV/AIDS prevention education in India because of the recognition of the importance of stopping this disease. Although there has been a bit of hesitancy to acknowledge and interact with men who have sex with men, this has decreased the efficiency of the programme due to the stigma associated with this population.

Some of the renowned Organisations 

The Family Planning Association of India (FPAI) was set up in 1949. It was shaped with the intent to defend the well-being of ladies by forestalling an excessive number of and to firmly disperse pregnancies. It’s first clinic was established in 1952 where it educated people on topics such as family planning, family counselling and infertility.

The Society for Nutrition, Education and Health Action (SNEHA) was set up during the 1990s and is situated in Mumbai, India. From kids' well-being to ensuring the safety/protection of a child, it attempts to advance consciousness of ladies' independence, wellbeing, and sexuality.

Talking about Reproductive and Sexual Health Issues (TARSHI) was set up in 1996 and is situated in New Delhi, India. TARSHI attempts to grow sexual and regenerative decisions by working from a positive and rights based viewpoint - a point of view that is frequently contradictory to regular social convictions.

Nirantar Trust which began in 1993 advances sex fairness, particularly for young ladies from minimized networks. By considering factors like station, sexuality, religion, class, and nationality, the Nirantar trust attempts to create a women's activist administration.

The Sonagachi Project is a friend training venture which was established in 1992. It energizes sex-labourers in West Bengal to demand condoms. The task has effectively expanded condom utilization and decreased STD levels among sex-labourers in West Bengal.

RELATED CASE LAWS

B.K. Adarsh v/s Union of India

In this case the petitioner had produced a movie which was titled ‘SEX VGYAN’ which means ‘Sex Education’. The petitioner had applied for grant ‘A’ certification with 13 cut scenes from the Central Board of Film certification at Hyderabad which was turned down.

The film starts with a group of delegates headed by Dr. Ravi Varma who is illuminating the public on sex education in the modern society and the evils due to ignorance with several discussions relating to happy married life, prostitution, venereal diseases, pregnancy, family planning method, different methods of deliveries, sex transmission etc. Thereafter, there is a portion where the delegates ask question to the doctors which gets answered by the panel of Doctors and lastly with the sex perversion and their evil effects.

The Revising Committee found that the film contained visuals and certain procedures which were apparently not palatable to the general public. It concluded that the impact of the film is such that it will hurt the sensibilities of the viewers and even misguide them on various sexual matters.

But the same picture was shown to Professor Dr. Anjaneyulu, Sri Vaman Rao and Sri Punnayya who unanimously stated that the picture was not repulsive nor does it creates any lustful thought and on the other hand it was educational and is near home to the prevailing conditions in the society.

The Hon’ble Court decided that the film is justified to be granted an ‘A’ certificate with cut portions already deleted and few more portions to be cut which was suggested by the Examining Committee and was upheld in the Court.

Fathima A.S v/s Public Prosecutor

The petitioner, a mother asked her two minor kids, matured 14 (kid) and 8 (young lady) to paint on her bare body over the navel. The kids painted on her exposed body. The petitioner recorded it as a video. The video had been uploaded in online media with the heading "Body Art and Politics."

When such video was discovered by the Cyber dome, Kochi City Police, they submitted a report before the Inspector General of Police and the Commissioner of Police, Kochi stating that this was a child pornography related crime on social media.

The petitioner stated that she is an Activist and has been facing her conflict against body segregation. The petitioner presented that, it is her firm conviction that, there should be openness so far as the conversation on body parts is concerned, and it is not something to be hidden inside and outside the family about the same. As per the applicant, the kids should be given sex education, and they additionally should be made mindful of the body parts too. In which event, they would mature themselves to see their body as a different medium altogether rather than seeing it as a sexual tool alone. As per her, she uploaded the above video with such an expectation.

The court listening to the petitioner’s words believed that the petitioner has got the freedom to teach her child according to her philosophy. But, that should be within the four walls of her house and should not be forbidden by law.

The court finally decided that the case was not a fit case and the petitioner can be released on bail.

Conclusion

India still has a long way to go in terms of sex education. The word “sex” is still considered bad and it is being imprinted in the minds of the children that saying or talking about anything related to sex will lead to punishment. Teachers and parents are embarrassed to talk about sex and thus the children take alternate mediums to clear their curiosity which leads to misinterpretation and further confusion on their part. Children needs guidance and not ignorance, and for that we need to try our best to let go of such taboo and understand the problems they are facing and try to help them however we can.