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May 4, 2025
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Yoga At Your Desk: International Yoga Day

By
Vaibhavi Khanwalkar
-

Three years ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called out to celebrate the practice of yoga on June 21. Sometime later, it was adopted by the United Nations as International Yoga Day. This year’s theme mainly revolves around ‘Yoga For Health’. It points at making yoga an integral part of your life, will lead to the betterment of your physical and mental health. The general idea of this day and its significance remains very restricted. Corporations, schools, government institutions and individuals do yoga one morning in the whole year and preach its benefits.

The lifestyle and work culture of present times do not allow people to go out every day and spend one hour for yoga or any sort of exercise. Therefore, for some time now, a new form of yoga has been on the rise. Practicing yoga while sitting on your chair in your workplace or your class has been a style of yoga, which is being widely practiced. All the meetings, time spent staring at a computer screen and sitting in one posture for hours has been deemed unhealthy by medical experts all over the world. It causes back pains, spinal injuries, stress, eye problems and many other serious medical conditions in young adults. It also takes a toll on the employees’ mental health.

Therefore, the concept of yoga in your chair eliminates the time factor from the equation. It helps you utilise the ten minutes break during your shift to relax your body, with beneficial exercise. Simple movements of your neck, eyes, and exercises for your abdomen are proving to be very beneficial for the young adults sitting in offices from 9 to 5, or students sitting in classes all day. Many colleges have incorporated this alternative yoga method in their curriculum, where the students can use in the breaks between their classes.

Pradeep Solanki, a yoga instructor from Yoga on Call, an organisation promoting and facilitating this yoga practice, said, “Some exercise is better than no exercise at all. Professionals who do not have the time for an hour-long session can make a lot of difference to their health by adopting yoga in their routine, even in a small way. When you are stuck in a traffic jam or in the middle of a long meeting, giving your body an out helps with mental stress management.”

According to a World Health Organisation study done in 2016, India is the diabetes capital of the world with 69.2 million people suffering from it. It was also found that diabetes is more prevalent in urban areas. A report published by National Commission on Macroeconomics and Health in 2005 claimed that by 2015, 64 million people would suffer from cardiovascular diseases, aged under 40 years. 40% of the suicides in India are committed by people below 40 years of age, which is an indicator of higher stress levels.

A simple solution to overcome the increase in the above figures is yoga. It helps in flexibility, stamina, body strength, improving sleep cycle and maintaining mental balance. Way over 4 million people have pledged to make yoga a regular activity in their lives, but more has to be done than signing an online petition. Your body needs a healthier lifestyle amidst all the rush and commotion. Alternative or not, make yoga a habit for the improvement of your health.

Thank you for reading the story until the very end. We appreciate the time you have given us. In addition, your thoughts and inputs will genuinely make a difference to us. Please do drop in a line and help us do better.

Regards,
The CSR Journal Team 

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Alandi To Pandharpur: A Journey Towards Awareness

By
Vaibhavi Khanwalkar
-

On June 18th, the world’s longest pilgrimage, the Palkhi Sohala 2017, started from the towns of Alandi and Dehu, with millions of people on foot, chanting the name of their god, Lord Vitthal. Every year, at the beginning of the monsoon, people walk in groups, called dindis, carrying paadukas (footwear) of Saints Dnyaneshwar and Tukaram for 250 kms, all the way to Pandharpur, where there is a temple of Vitthal. This tradition goes back to the 13th century and is known as waari. Those participating in this journey are called warkaris.

It is an important tradition in the Maharashtrian culture comprising of a 20-day long journey. A large number of people hoping to attend the waari are unable to, due to various constraints. Seven years ago, Swapnil More, along with his small team found a way to help such people. He founded Facebook Dindi, a website that provides live updates about the waari as it goes along its route. The response this website got in its first year was phenomenal. Almost 10,000 people connected with Swapnil on social networking sites. Over the years, the following for this page only increased and website got regular traffic, with close to one crore people visiting the site.

Since last year, Facebook Dindi started carrying out social awareness campaigns about pressing issues, to initiate discussions through their strong social media presence. This year’s theme is women empowerment.“This started out as a way of updating and helping out people who are unable to participate in the waari themselves. But when our followers increased, we thought we would use this reach to get out social messages and help in whatever way we can”, said Swapnil More. “Last year we raised awareness about water retention, collaborating with Environmental Forum of India, Baramati. This year, we thought we would take up women’s issues as our campaign. We call it “Waari ti chi” which loosely translates to ‘Her Journey’, he added.

More explained that this year’s wari is about the battle women face, about their expression, their existence, their liberation and their identity. He further added that the campaign suggests that a woman’s struggle starts from the moment she is in the womb. There itself people try to destroy her existence and from that point begins a “waari” – a never ending journey of hers. The issues addressed through their campaigns this year are female foeticide, child sexual abuse, misconception about menstruation, child marriage, dowry and domestic violence, widows’ rights and many more.

As part of their campaigns, Facebook Dindi conducts interviews with experts working in the field they have chosen as their social issue, like lawyers, social workers, and activists. Their video interviews have over 10 lacs views. This year, the team will be interviewing mainly the women who are taking part in the waari, taking their opinions on the present condition of women in the country. Also expressing her viewpoint will be advocate Varsha Deshpande, founder of ‘Lek Laadki Abhiyaan’ and head of Rising India Research Foundation, Dr. Girish Laad.

This group is demonstrating ways of using social media to fulfill one’s own social responsibility. By engaging and encouraging these activities online, a person can fulfill his social as well as spiritual realizations.

Thank you for reading the story until the very end. We appreciate the time you have given us. In addition, your thoughts and inputs will genuinely make a difference to us. Please do drop in a line and help us do better.

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The CSR Journal Team 

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Value Alignment Is Essential To Co-Create Projects: Garima Dutt, Senior Manager, CSR, GlaxoSmithKline

By
Neha Bilandani
-

Concentrated in the space of healthcare, GlaxoSmithKline is in partnership with World Health Organisation (WHO). While in conversation with the lead person, Garima Dutt, CSR, GlaxoSmithKline, she says, “All stakeholders need to benefit, either in knowledge gain or project impact. At the same time, volunteering is a great key for Individual Social Responsibility. It is crucial for purpose to become larger than area of operation.”

Thank you for watching the interview. We appreciate the time you have given us. In addition, your thoughts and inputs will genuinely make a difference to us. Please do drop in a line and help us do better.

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The CSR Journal Team 

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India’s Biggest Challenge Is Poverty, Is Universal Basic Income The Answer?

By
The CSR Journal
-
According to World Bank, India has the highest number of people living below the poverty line -- 224 million. (In picture) Dharavi, Mumbai is one of the largest slum settlements in the world.

The idea of basic income guarantee and the success it had in Dauphin, Canada to eliminate people living below poverty line (BPL) is widely renowned. Recently, Finland and Canada had taken steps towards providing Universal Basic Income (UBI) on an experimental basis, while other developed and developing economies are tying their hopes to it too.

What is Universal Basic Income? A Universal Basic Income or UBI is defined as an amount of monetary income provided to a citizen each month either by the government or an institute. The UBI can either replace the current scheme of benefits to that citizen or be provided as an additional benefit.

Arvind Subramanian is the Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India. In October 2016, he discussed the Bhartiya Janta Party government’s plan to introduce the UBI scheme in India, in an interview to The Indian Express. He told the government considered to give cash of Rs. 10,000-15,000/per year to each citizen of India.

“Today there are at least 1000 schemes that the Central government runs for the poor. It isn’t clear if that money actually reaches the poor. So the question is whether the UBI is a more effective way of reaching the poor than the current schemes that the government employs.” – Arvind Subramanian

According to World Bank, India has the highest number of people who find themselves below the poverty line (BPL) – and the largest to lift themselves from poverty too. The country accounts for about 26 percent of total poor in the world, consequently playing an ever-more important role in eradicating poverty by 2030.

Despite the growing population of middle-class, a high number of the country’s working class is susceptible to drop below the poverty line. As for the ones who have escaped the poverty – around 113 million from 1994-2012 – are not yet economically strong and shuttle just above the $1.90 a day line of income. As of 2014, 29.5 percent of India’s population lives BPL.

Why the poor make poor decisions?

In a recent TED Talk on poverty, Historian and Author, Rutger Bregman said, “Why do the poor make so many poor decisions? The poor borrow, save less, smoke more, exercise less, drink more and eat less healthfully.”

Back in 2010, a group of American psychologists conducted a study on sugarcane farmers in India. The research explored cycles of poverty that the farmers faced in the state of Tamil Nadu and effects it had on decisions made by them. These farmers earn around 60 percent of their annual income after the harvest of sugarcane. As a result, they remain rich during the post-harvest months and gradually slip down, remaining poor for the rest of the cycle.

The study found out, these farmers recorded a lower IQ in the pre-harvest months i.e. the time they are poor – losing 14 points in IQ. While farmers scored a higher average IQ post-harvest or during the time they were rich. Going back to the point Bregman made in his speech, about “poor decisions” by poor people, we can understand his idea that “poverty is not the lack of knowledge” but “the lack of cash”.

The Answer

The Economic Survey report of 2015-16, mentions about the losses, which is the “existing government programs suffer from poor targeting”. A “new vision”, as suggested in the report can provide a more effective way of achieving Mahatma Gandhi’s objectives of “wiping every tear from every eye”.

In fact, the problem is India’s weak subsidiary schemes – despite the current government’s attempt to streamline issues. A major talking point about UBI is getting the share/per person right. The combined contribution of Centre and state government in our GDP is around 27 percent. And, at Rs. 10,000, it would cost the GDP 9 percent.

As highlighted in a Livemint post on UBI from January, “If the Centre and the states can also agree on a relatively flat tax structure without exemptions for the goods and services tax (GST), this will help generate additional tax revenues worth 2.7 percent of GDP.”

A large-scale implementation is still a distant future. But small scale implementations have and can provide a radical perspective. As Subramanian says, “It is an idea whose time is ripe for further deliberation and discussion, and not necessarily for immediate implementation.”

Thank you for reading the story until the very end. We appreciate the time you have given us. In addition, your thoughts and inputs will genuinely make a difference to us. Please do drop in a line and help us do better.

Regards,
The CSR Journal Team 

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Growth Of Unconventional Energy Resources In India

By
Vaibhavi Khanwalkar
-

Last week, at the forefront, was the story of Minara Masjid in Mumbai. It has been in the news for its mesmerizing lights and its spiritual importance. However, recently it was in light for its sustainable ways. The mosque became the first ever in the city to replace the conventional thermal and coal combustion with solar panels for electricity, about four months back. It has helped reduce the electricity bill by half, and the trustees have already recovered a significant amount of money they invested in the solar panels.

This is a perfect example of why solar panels could be the way to go forward in India. In any case, from the ecological perspective, the world is in a place where renewable energy resources are the better options. Solar energy is one of those resources which gives returns quickly, and India is an ideal place to carry it out. On land, we receive solar energy at the rate of approximately 1,73,000 TeraWatt (one million million watts).  India ranks fifth in the list of countries ideal for harnessing and consuming solar energy. We initiated this process in 2008 when then PM Manmohan Singh launched India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change on June 30, 2008. The aim was to shift India’s energy consumption from fossil fuels to non-fossil fuels like solar and wind energy.

According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, in 2015-16, India has crossed the 12 Giga Watt (one billion watts) mark. Many of the states have adopted solar energy as a means of electricity. Andhra Pradesh leads the list and Karnataka, Telangana and Rajasthan are close behind. The government has implemented a lot of policies and schemes to enable greater use of solar energy in the country. The government has reduced solar tariff to Rs. 2.97 per kwH. A low solar tariff will make the solar energy plants easy to establish, will call in more investment and will increase solar energy reach in India. India has severe power shortage, especially in rural areas. According to a report published by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, between 2014-17, 1.1 lacs of solar pumps were installed in the country. While solar power is used actively by government buildings and big institutions, but it has not helped much in the residential sector.

A report by Scroll claims that the Indian government rolled out Rs. 50 billion funding for 30% capital subsidy for rooftop solar installations to push capacity to 4.2 GW by 2020  in December 2015. This has not helped in getting solar energy to people’s homes, but developers only focus on commercial setups. This is happening because adapting to and investing in solar energy costs a lot, and people do not have assurances of getting a return on their investment. Plus, it costs them slightly higher, it requires a lot of space to set up on the roof and blocks it for any other use.

The process and benefits of developing solar energy are still not understood by people, which gives rise to hesitation in investment and adaptability. It is a widely unexplored area, which can save money, pollution and can result in greater scientific and economic development.

Thank you for reading the story until the very end. We appreciate the time you have given us. In addition, your thoughts and inputs will genuinely make a difference to us. Please do drop in a line and help us do better.

Regards,
The CSR Journal Team 

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Only Way Forward To Tackle Violence Is- Speak Up

By
Neha Bilandani
-

Part 1 of our article spoke about violence against women and girls and how digital media can catalyse the much needed change in mindset. The aim is to mobilise the youth to address issues around gender-based violence, particularly violence against women and girls (VAWG) as this is a problem that is not only accelerating but also acquiring a digital persona and spilling into the relatively young digital space. The goal is to bring about a change in the cultural and social norms that consider violence as “acceptable.” It is crucial for men to understand that the infliction of violence is not a right but rather a violation. Women need to be very clear that they do not, under any circumstances, deserve it or should accept it.

An increase in knowledge will help steer perceptions on VAWG among youth so that girls will be encouraged to speak up as well as bring about positive changes in perceptions of masculinity. It is the inspiration the youth need to become change agents and speak up against violence in homes, colleges and online public spaces. Speaking up is critical – the silence and stigma around violence needs to be shattered. “The campaign Main KuchBhi Kar SaktiHoon (MKBKSH) – I, A Woman Can Achieve Anything is a potential campaign of a scalable model that can addresses the growing incidence of this scourge.  Over time, this repository of digital information would serve as a resource on combating all forms of gender based violence (GBV),” said Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director, Population Foundation Of India.

It is true that gender violence happens across age groups. However, the youth are the architects and leaders of tomorrow and their thinking and actions need to be educated and informed. Giving them the opportunity to showcase their thoughts and ideas on tackling GBV and also to demonstrate how it matters to them.

Another reason which is overlooked and has a large role to plays is regressive social norms and attitudes that sanctify VAWG are still very much there. They may as well be growing up witnessing various forms of violence within their communities, families and homes. Opening up the issue is one way of addressing it.

This is the time to show how you can change the world, smash patriarchy and end violence. Let us not be afraid to share our thoughts and creativity. This part 2 article is to create awareness and give the youth a unique opportunity to focus on the issue of violence, which is all pervasive in our society. They can reflect upon it and act. Most importantly, even offer a solution.

Thank you for reading the story until the very end. We appreciate the time you have given us. In addition, your thoughts and inputs will genuinely make a difference to us. Please do drop in a line and help us do better.

Regards,
The CSR Journal Team 

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Make Blood Available And Accessible: World Blood Donor Day

By
Vaibhavi Khanwalkar
-

In times when urgent medical aid is needed, a blood donor’s contribution helps you and the ones close to you. To celebrate and encourage blood donation as a voluntary practice and the donors, World Health Organisation marks June 14 as World Blood Donor Day. The theme this year is “Give Blood. Give Now. Give Often.” The aim is to make blood donation more of a regular practice by citizens. It seeks to eliminate the rush of the last minute and donation only during emergencies and accidents. This would help build ample resources that can be useful at the point where it is urgently needed. Blood donations by 1% of the country’s population can help meet the need of blood. It is just a matter of awareness and realization by the eligible citizens of our country.

112.5 million blood donations are collected globally, coming from high-income countries, where roughly 18% of the population of the world lives. It is very difficult to get this blood to countries outside the developed nations, where the shortage is even more prominent. WHO reports claim that in countries with low income, 65% of the donations from the developed nations are used for blood transfusions of children under the age of 5. But still, the global shortage is almost 40 million units every year (Borgen Magazine Report 2014).

Donors who give blood voluntarily are helping facilitate successful treatment of citizens who do not have access to these services. 57% of the world’s countries collect blood through unpaid volunteers. It is required for women with complex pregnancies, patients of anemia and many other surgeries and operations. Patients suffer unnecessarily or die in many cases since safe blood transfusions are unavailable.  

When natural disasters hit countries that may or may not be medically equipped to handle the injured, a stocked blood bank will come in handy. At the time of emergencies, it will be hard to manage resources. This year’s theme, therefore, encourages donating blood as often as possible, and not just when there is a national or global emergency. Unpaid, voluntary blood donors ensure a standard base and safe blood transfusions, in times of need. One unit of blood can help several patients.

The management of the blood, its access and reach have proven to be ineffective in the past. Add that to the misconceptions that people have about blood donations, and the picture does not look very good. The National Blood Transfusion Council looks after the provision of a safe and adequate amount of blood to anyone in need. Over the years, the NBTC has been working to provide Blood Transfusion Systems, reorganize them and make the latest technology available for the citizens. After guidelines and supervision of the government body, people are more aware and trusting of the practice. This is why the number of blood donors and donation awareness camps have increased in our country over past five years.

What better good deed can you ask for than saving someone’s life? Respond to the global need of blood and eradicate the shortage by donating as often as possible.

Thank you for reading the story until the very end. We appreciate the time you have given us. In addition, your thoughts and inputs will genuinely make a difference to us. Please do drop in a line and help us do better.

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The CSR Journal TeamSubscribe

Promoting The Culture Of Safety In Rural Communities

By
Pearl Tiwari, Ambuja Cement Foundation
-

Companies are increasingly growing innovative and flexible with their CSR practices. With globalization and technological advancement, there is a growing trend of sharing knowledge, exchanging best practices and promoting collaborative efforts. This is evident in many areas – be it conservation & management of natural resources, health, education or empowerment. The endeavours have made some significant impact in the lives of rural communities across India.

Through CSR, corporates are making their best efforts to reduce the rural-urban divide, especially in terms of access to information. The outcomes, too, have been quite encouraging. Better infrastructure, access to digital technology and increasing confidence of people (especially youth), indeed deserves an applause.

Government’s focus on strengthening rural infrastructure is a welcome move. Several companies are also coming forward to support the initiative and there is an increased emphasis on building roads and improve rural-urban connectivity. However, at the same time, there is a greater need to build a sense of responsibility amongst people to make use of the facilities in the best possible manner. Safety, of course, should be the prime concern. Currently, public, in general, is casual about safety and there exist abysmally low safety standards, especially in rural areas.

As per the report by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, there were 269,529 road accidents in rural locations as compared to 231,894 accidents in the urban areas. The percentage of road accident fatalities and injuries were also more in rural areas as compared to the urban areas in the country. It is obvious that safety be treated as an urgent issue, given the fact that rural India is on fast-development track.

Most businesses have set up their manufacturing plants in remote rural geographies. Many a times, these locations are underdeveloped to a large extent where people lack access to basic facilities and information. However, as companies begin their operations in such locations, there is a sudden outburst of developmental initiatives mostly beginning with roads and infrastructure. This definitely works in favour of surrounding communities, however, all this often happens too quickly for the people to absorb and respond to the changes.

Companies must be aware that their presence in rural geographies, especially related to logistics, impacts the neighbourhood directly. Some of the examples are increased traffic, high pollution and several other small businesses cropping up in the vicinity. All this, if not managed well, could impose severe damage to the community, especially related to safety.

While companies are quite proactive in taking into account the safety of their employees and working staff, there still exists a large scope in extending this practice to their surrounding communities. Business responsibility doesn’t end at building infrastructure and improving access, rather, it brings upon the onus of helping people adopt safe practices to make the best use of the facilities.

Operating in rural geographies is a sensitive domain and corporates can mitigate any unpleasant circumstance by promoting safety as a way of life. Rather than reacting to the incidents that occur due to unsafe behaviour and practices, corporates should be vigilant and proactive to sense the situation and take corrective actions well in advance. In Ambuja Cement, we realized that road safety was a concern for the Company as hundreds of trucks moved in and out of plant premises every day. While the Company did improve infrastructure in the locations, it extended the safety drive to other domains as well. This included focused training of our drivers, installing GPS system in vehicles and involving employees in all safety programs initiated inside and outside the plants.

It is important to note that like any other project, safety as a culture should be accepted and owned by its people. Safety cannot be imposed, rather, it should be cultivated with care and patience so that it is imbibed and embraced by people with utmost priority.

Any other initiative will yield result, only when our community is safe and healthy. Safety should be adopted as an overarching value by companies not only for its employees but its communities as well.

db7ac5a0-0e9b-429a-af00-e5a5c9666190Pearl Tiwari is the Director of Ambuja Cement Foundation, the CSR wing of Ambuja Cements Limited. In a professional career spanning over 30 years, Pearl has been associated with the not-for-profit, educational and corporate sectors. Pearl joined Ambuja in 2000 and ever since has been at the helm of nurturing the Ambuja Cement Foundation that has expanded from a fledging team to nearly 400 development professionals, with a pan-India presence active in 21 locations across 11 states.

Views of the author are personal and do not necessarily represent the website’s views.

Thank you for reading the story until the very end. We appreciate the time you have given us. In addition, your thoughts and inputs will genuinely make a difference to us. Please do drop in a line and help us do better.

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Digital Efficacy To Change Social Norms And Gender Based Violence

By
Neha Bilandani
-

There is still prevalent a shameless abuse of human rights. Entrenched patriarchal social norms, which continue to perpetuate violence. If the growing incidence of crimes against women is to be checked, one of the first steps we need to take is to bring about a change in the attitude and perception of our youth. India has 356 million youth who are vulnerable– either as perpetrators or as survivors.

Global evidence from countries like South Africa, Mexico and Brazil has demonstrated the efficacy of entertainment education in changing mindsets and transforming social norms. In India, the success of Hum Log and Main KuchBhi Kar Sakti Hoon (MKBKSH) – has shown that by weaving appropriate messages into a compelling story that entertains and at the same time educates in an understated subtle manner, can be more effective in shifting attitudes and mindsets that one thought were carved in stone. The MKBKSH campaign has shown it can increase knowledge; promote positive attitudes and change behaviour. Evidence suggests that digital media consumption might surpass offline media platforms such as the television and the print media in the future. Thus, from a long-term perspective, it is essential to focus on capturing the digital audience.

Recently, an 18-month nationwide campaign was launched against gender-based violence (GBV)  focusing on violence against women and girls (VAWG). #BasAbBahutHoGaya symbolises the end to tolerating violence and encourages everyone, especially the youth, to take action.

The kernel message being that violence against women and girls should never be accepted. Therefore, it is designed to motivate young girls to stand up against violence and also to demonstrate and advocate to boys that violence is not a mark of a man. It has no connection to masculinity but rather with being a bully and a coward.

As the title implies, #BasAbBahutHoGaya, calls for zero tolerance to violence against women and girls. National celebrities have joined the Population Foundation of India in this campaign to relay messages and motivate the young to actively join hands to end the same. Speaking to Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director, Population Foundation Of India, she says, “The aim is to mobilise the youth to address issues around gender-based violence, particularly violence against women and girls (VAWG) as this is a problem that is not only accelerating but also acquiring a digital persona and spilling into the relatively young digital space. Our goal is to bring about a change in the cultural and social norms that consider violence as “acceptable.” We would like men to understand that the infliction of violence is not a right but rather a violation; women need to be very clear that they do not, under any circumstances, deserve it or should accept it; equally, men need to know that VAWG is not a sign of strength but of weakness and insecurity. We have to aim to shape social norms which respect and value girls and boys equally.”

Farhan Akhtar a popular actor has been committed to working on violence against women and girls for a long time and to make a difference. To support this issue he founded an organisation called MARD (Men Against Rape and Discrimination) after the 2012 December tragic case of Nirbhaya. For Main Kuch Bhi Kar Sakti Hoon (MKBKSH) – I, A Woman Can Achieve Anything, he has collaborated with his organisation MARD.

The main aim to write and support such issues is to generate debate and promote positive change in cultural and social norms by putting women and girls at the centre. In the humdrum of daily life, where we are laboriously working to stay sustainable, one tends to overlook and stay numb towards this discrimination and social issues. Lets break out of that oversight attitude and be in command, for we individuals make the society and take it forward or stay stagnant in being backward.

Thank you for reading the story until the very end. We appreciate the time you have given us. In addition, your thoughts and inputs will genuinely make a difference to us. Please do drop in a line and help us do better.

Regards,
The CSR Journal Team 

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Maharashtra Government Breaks Stigma Around Sex Education

By
Vaibhavi Khanwalkar
-

Amongst the most ignored subjects in our country, sex education and personal hygiene possibly make it to the top ten list. Parents are too embarrassed to broach the subject at home, and the stigma doesn’t spare the education system as well. This taboo in the Indian society is leading to misdelivery of information in the youth while they are entering adulthood.

In the midst of all the stigma and awkwardness, the Maharashtra government, in collaboration with United Nations, has taken an initiative like no other.

Children from the age of 12, studying in Maharashtra’s residential tribal boarding schools will be given regular lessons on sex and reproductive health, topics such as gender sensitivity and pregnancy will also be covered. The aim is to reach 543 tribal schools in Maharashtra, so that the subject can be discussed freely and effectively. Sex education aims to help young children understand issues related to sex and sexuality. It helps them manage their sexual health and hygiene.

A step like this is unprecedented and the fact that it is starting in tribal schools will set a good example for the metropolitan cities. The subject of sex education has always been ignored in India mainly due to the social construct. In a country like India, where marriage before 18 and teen pregnancy still prevails, this knowledge is very relevant. Young adults are poorly informed about diseases related to sex and hygiene. According to a survey done by WHO in 2012, only 14% of girls residing in rural areas knew about HIV/AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases. 30% of the female population in India were married as adolescents, between 2002-2012. These shocking statistics call for some action and thought.

Sex education is looked at in a bad light by most parents and teachers. It is considered to be obscene; they think of it as encouragement for students to engage in such activities at an early age. They do not seem to understand that not giving children the knowledge would lead them to wrong ways of getting the information, which will do more harm than good.

With an increasing awareness seeping into the country’s administration and citizens, many other states like Haryana are planning to introduce this subject in middle and high schools. The Human Resources Development ministry asked for introduction of lessons about health, hygiene and also against unprotected sex. The only catch and challenge was the fact that they did not wish to use the word ‘sex’. (India Today report October 2016). The fact that so many states are realising the importance of this subject and are incorporating it in the syllabus is commendable.

This initiative is a very strong move by the Maharashtra government along with Tribal Minister Vishnu Savara. It will set a great example and will deconstruct the taboo our society carries, bit by bit.

Thank you for reading the story until the very end. We appreciate the time you have given us. In addition, your thoughts and inputs will genuinely make a difference to us. Please do drop in a line and help us do better.

Regards,
The CSR Journal Team

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