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Awareness, action key to tackle taboos

Last Updated 29 April 2015, 20:02 IST

Two years have passed, but this 21-year-old student of BA, at Delhi University’s Open School of Learning, clearly remembers the incident that changed her perspective towards life.

“I had just got admission in the first year of graduation when I learnt about a centre near my home from a friend. I too decided to accompany her,” says Anita Prasad, a resident of Munirka. She opted for the coaching course in ‘cutting and tailoring’ amidst other options like computer, beautician and English-speaking courses at the Yuva Chetna Kendra.

“An empty mind is a devil’s workshop, so I thought of keeping myself busy by leaning something useful. Over time, I became involved in the centre’s various programmes and became a youth volunteer. Attending seminars became a routine and informing others in my locality about sexual awareness and use of contraceptives, a mission.”

It was during one of these days that Prasad was contacted by a friend who sought help for another friend. “The girl, about 16, in a relationship had conceived. She didn’t know about the consequences and having become pregnant was petrified lest her parents came to know about it,” says Prasad.

Ironically, in this age of social media and internet, a major population of youngsters is largely unaware of contraceptives. Most complain that there is no information provided in schools regarding physical relationships and at home it is, of course, a ‘taboo to talk about’.

The lack of sex education results in poor health standards too. “Girls don’t feel comfortable talking about other concerns as well. For instance, there is a group of 10 to 15 year-olds in my locality who didn’t bathe regularly in winter due to the misconception of falling ill. It was a task to make them understand that it is necessary for hygiene to change undergarments regularly,” informs Prasad, today a youth member at Family Planning Association of India.
While on the one hand it is a struggle to educate women from the less-educated section of society about the right age to conceive, on the other, there is a daunting task of helping those who have not experienced the bliss of parenthood.

“When I couldn’t have a baby after six years of marriage, everyone in the society blamed me. After a point even I started thinking that the fault is with me,” says 26-year-old Ranjana Kumari from Mahipalpur, tears welling up in her eyes. When she approached one of these centres, she was happy to learn that she only needed to take some medication to become well and conceive.

“My confidence in myself returned and even a miscarriage after two months of my first visit, couldn’t deter me from continuing the meetings with the counsellor,” says the brave woman, a tear rolling down. “Nothing can explain the void in life created due to absence of a child. I’m three months pregnant now,” she says in a voice that is both cautious and relieved.
A recent meeting, held in the Capital over the issue of family planning, saw participation of various representatives from Government bodies, NGOs and experts from abroad.

Tewodros Melesse, director general of International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) participating in the event told Metrolife, “Our volunteers and medical practitioners encourage young girls and boys to learn how to avoid unwanted pregnancy. The Government of India has communicated to provide health services to 48 million women by 2020. An additional five million is on target too. About nine million were provided services last year, yet setting up such centres, training youngsters, encouraging other sections through them is quite challenging.”

The burgeoning population of India prompts Melesse to say, “We need to have a more critical look. There is a need to reach young people and there is a lack of appropriate contraceptives. Plus, there is a need for financial resou­rces in India, among other things, such as influence of religious or community leaders. But for all these, the youth do work as an entry point. The
issue is not just about unwanted pregnancy among young girls but also about unprotected sex and the larger impact it has on females for the rest of their lives.”
      

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(Published 29 April 2015, 20:02 IST)

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