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Health

NGO for Medical Financial Help in India

NGO for Medical Financial Help in India
A patient getting a check-up at a Smile on Wheels van

Not everyone in India is equal in terms of wealth and money. The fortunate ones are able to provide medical treatment to their loved ones. They do it either by opting for premium medical insurance or by having saved enough for any medical emergency. But there is one or another NGO for medical financial help available in India. Let’s learn about them and more!

The challenge is for those whose incomes barely cover the basic cost of living such as food and shelter. It is for them that medical treatments become a stressful time.  But all is not dreary for them!

Help and hope for them are provided by nonprofits that offer free and immediate financial assistance to those in need.

Governmental Support

Both the Union and State governments provide medical financial help to the disadvantaged communities who need it the most. Some of the leading initiatives are– 

Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF)

India’s first PM Jawaharlal Nehru started the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) in 1948. The idea was to help Indian families who are impacted by natural disasters such as cyclones, floods, and earthquakes as well as those people who are victims of riots, major accidents and other such extraordinary calamities. 

Today the fund finds use to provide financial assistance to marginalised communities who are ailing from major illnesses but are unable to afford medical treatment and care. Selected hospitals that form part of this programme are empanelled to provide medical treatment to the needy at no cost.

Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN)

The RAN was set up in 1997 to provide financial assistance to patients living below the poverty line. Those suffering from major life-threatening diseases related to heart, liver, kidney and cancer cases, etc., are eligible to receive medical treatment at any of the super specialty government hospitals/institutes as well private hospitals mandated under this scheme to treat these patients at no cost. 

Grants amounting to INR 50 lakhs can be disbursed towards healthcare and medicines for those who need it the most. Moreover, 10% of beds are reserved for poor patients in all private hospitals that can be availed for treatment.

This is very useful for those who are suffering from life-threatening diseases, where saving time is key.  This ready access to funds ensures minimum delay in identifying hospitals and brings promptness in the surgeries and treatments involved. This way RAN enables saving thousands of lives, bringing immense relief to marginalised communities. Communities who have been victims of death because of not receiving timely medical intervention. 

Is This Enough?

But it’s not enough! For a country where a majority of its people are living below the poverty line, access to affordable and immediate medical treatment remains a pipe dream. This is where several Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) come into play to bridge this gap and provide timely medical care. 

NGO for Medical Financial Help

With the help of technology, institutions have come up with innovative ways to address the challenges faced by disadvantaged people and marginalised communities living across the country in far-flung and remote areas. 

The leading lights in this landscape– the nonprofits who are committed and completely focused on ensuring medical treatment and financial help for the most needy are– 

Doctors for You

Swasth Foundation

Foundation for Mother and Child Health

CanKids KidsCan

Aarogya Seva Foundation

And lastly us, Smile Foundation

So, there is always one or another NGO for medical financial help in our country.

Even celebrities passionately involve themselves in philanthropic work now and contribute towards alleviating this issue and providing financial relief to the needy. The pandemic has seen several leading stars pledge to support and resources towards medical treatments for all those marginalised communities who were mostly labour and daily wage earners, who lost their jobs due to COVID-19.  This section of society has suffered the most. 

So, how is the healthcare system of India made better?

Corporate CSR 

Under the Companies Act 2013, corporations have to set aside a minimum of 2% of their net profits towards social causes and welfare programmes. These causes can vary from girl child education to eradicating hunger to providing financial aid to the poorer sections of society.  As part of this mandate, corporates can disburse funds earmarked for CSR to charitable hospitals, so that they can provide aid at the community level.

Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding has tremendous potential to reach out to millions of people at one time. Through the reach of the internet, you can ask people all over the world to support your cause. One can start a campaign, share details of their medical condition and make a universal appeal for financial aid.

The power of crowdfunding allows the message to be heard across the globe, which opens funding from companies as well as single individual donors who are keen to offer help and can afford it as well. 

With proactive involvement from all sides, we as a society are coming forward to help the less fortunate. We are seeing a shift in our health numbers. Today more and more people are covered by some form of financial assistance for their medical needs. This forms a good base to build on some fundamentals that will further enhance community-based health initiatives. 

So while the country works on increasing local infrastructure and strengthening its national health programs, these private partners are contributing in ways that benefit those who struggle for financial aid for themselves and their families.

Smile Foundation: An NGO for Medical Financial Help

Smile Foundation is trying to make healthcare available for people who live in remote areas who have to travel long distances and need it the most. Why? Because we are not exaggerating when we say Health Cannot Wait!

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Health In The Spotlight

Breastfeeding Awareness: Key to Improve Neonatal Health Status

Mothers share a unique bond with their children.

Their relationship is often described as pure and selfless to the extent of being divine, and why not! A mother not only nurtures the child in her womb for nine months, but also provides the priceless gift- her breast milk. Breastfeeding awareness then becomes key to improve neonatal health status.

Breast Milk: The Magic Potion for Life

Breast milk, like an elixir, holds the promise of a long and healthy life for a child. Research confirms that breastfeeding plays a crucial role in ensuring child survival and improving neonatal health. According to WHO, breast milk is the ideal food for infants as it is safe, clean and contains antibodies to protect the child from common childhood illnesses.  

Breast milk is the perfect food for an infant due to multiple reasons. It is readily available, is of the right temperature and free of cost. This milk changes itself to suit the baby’s needs. It provides all necessary nutrients in the right proportion and promotes healthy growth of the child. 

Further, breast milk is easily digested by the infant, ruling out the risk of diarrhoea or other stomach-related problems. It also protects children against diseases like diabetes and cancer later in life. Not just physical health, breastfeeding also positively impacts psychological and mental health of a child. Breastfed children have better IQ than others.

There are many factors that determine the optimization of breastfeeding. So is the need for breastfeeding awareness, which educates people and informs them about the proper way to do it. 

Optimising Breastfeeding in all possible areas

Early initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding ensure that a child gets the maximum health benefit out of breast milk. The first 28 days of life is the most critical phase of child survival and any death during this phase is defined as neonatal mortality. The timing of breastfeeding initiation plays a crucial role in regulating neonatal mortality.

The WHO recommends all infants to be fed within 1 hour of birth. According to a research published in the International Breastfeeding Journal in 2018, early initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life prevents around 20% newborn deaths and 13% deaths under the age of 5 years.

Breastfeeding Awareness Scenario in India and the World

A research based on ‘Impact of Timing of breastfeeding Initiation on neonatal mortality in India’, outlines the need for breastfeeding awareness by highlighting the fact that early initiation of breastfeeding was low in India at 36.4%. 

Latest statistics regarding global breastfeeding reveal that only 48% of all newborns are put to their mother’s breast within 1st hour of birth. A process also known as early initiation of breastfeeding. Similarly only about 44% of infants aged 0-6 months were exclusively breastfed over the period of 2015-20. These figures are not very encouraging and emphasise the need for breastfeeding awareness to improve neonatal health status.

In order to protect, promote and support breastfeeding, government policy makers, WHO, UNICEF and other organisations had signed the Innocenti Declaration in August 1990. It states two things clearly-

  1. All women should be enabled to practise exclusive breastfeeding and
  2. all infants should be fed exclusively on breast milk up to 4-6 months of age as a global goal for optimal maternal and child health and nutrition.

World Breastfeeding Week (WBW)

1st -7th August is celebrated as the World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) in more than 120 countries to commemorate the above declaration. WBW has the objective of promoting, protecting and supporting a woman’s right to breastfeed anywhere and anytime. The WBW theme for 2022 is ‘Step Up for Breastfeeding- educate and support’.

Working towards this theme, WBW2022 focuses to strengthen the capacity of all stakeholders who protect, promote and support breastfeeding across different levels of society. Policymakers, healthcare services, workplaces and communities are to be informed, educated, and empowered. These steps enable them to provide and sustain breastfeeding-friendly environments for families.

Breastfeeding Awareness and its Inevitable Link to Neonatal Health Status

An important step in this direction is to sensitise the mothers, caretakers, family members and other stakeholders regarding the importance of breastfeeding for neonatal health and create awareness regarding the right approach towards it.  A fact sheet released by the WHO shows that over 820,000 children under the age of 5 years could be saved every year if all children aged 0-23 months were optimally breastfed. Longer durations of breast feeding also contribute to the health and well being of mothers by reducing the risk of ovarian and breast cancer.

Another crucial part in promoting right breastfeeding practices is to identify the challenges and find solutions to them. Studies indicate that there is huge disparity in both breastfeeding initiation and continued breastfeeding. These disparities are related to demographic differences, traditional beliefs and cultural practices. Not just between countries or regions, the disparities in continued breastfeeding also exist within a country. They might vary with socio-economic status, race and ethnicity, awareness level or even working status of mothers.

It is crucial to promote breastfeeding awareness and create an environment to support mothers to optimally breastfeed the children. This calls for adoption and implementation of policies favoring and promoting breastfeeding. Each one of us can play our part in building a healthy planet by spreading awareness and supporting this practice. 

Smile Foundation through its programme, Swabhiman has successfully made a difference to the lives of over 560,000 women and girl children in India.

 
Categories
Education

Constitution of India: Education, Health and Gender Equality Rights

Constitution of India: Rights related to Education, Health, Nutrition and Gender Equality
Constitution of India: Rights related to Education, Health, Nutrition and Gender Equality

The constitution of India is a document that is revered by 1.4 billion people. It has provided a framework for a young nation and has guided its citizens to abide by the principles of equality, fraternity, liberty, and justice.

The Indian constitution provides a vision for the country. It imagines India as a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic. It is one of the most elaborate constitutions around the world which enshrines the ideas of equality of all and freedom to its citizens.

The constitution, through Fundamental Rights, Legal Rights, and other important Articles, clearly articulates the liberties and freedom given to the people of India. However, there is a strong emphasis on basic needs such as education, health, nutrition, and gender equality.

Let us look at how the constitution of India ensures these for its people.

Education Rights in the Indian Constitution

As India gained Independence in 1947, the country had an extremely poor education system left behind by the British. India’s literacy rate stood at a poor 12% at the time. The women or girls were in a more disadvantageous position as the female literacy rate was extremely low.

Thus, the first task that the Indian leadership had to do was to focus on providing education to everyone. At the time of drafting, the education rights in the Indian constitution were included as a state subject. This was later amended in 1976 and education became a part of the concurrent list. This meant that both the Central Government and the State Governments were responsible for providing education to the people.

The biggest amendment that came in this area was in 2002. The 86th amendment to the constitution made education a fundamental right for every Indian. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act came into force on April 1, 2010. 

Article 21(A) of the constitution, added after the 86th amendment, now makes education a fundamental right for every child between the ages of 6 to 14 years. The subsequent law makes it an obligation for the state governments to ensure that this is implemented.

Apart from this, Article 30 of the constitution gives the minorities in India the right to establish and monitor educational institutions. This has been done to ensure quality education for minorities too.

Indian Constitution and Gender Equality

The Indian constitution ensures equality for all, and this makes gender equality an inseparable element of it. The Right to Equality is covered under Articles 14 to 18 of the constitution. It says that the state cannot deny equal rights before the law to any citizen of India.

It also prohibits any discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth. Since gender equality is inherent to the existing rights in the constitution of India, there is no specific gender equality law in India.

However, the country has enacted several other laws to ensure the right to equality for women. Article 42 of the constitution makes it mandatory for the state to provide “reasonable working conditions and maternity assistance for women”. 

There are other laws for gender equality in India like the Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961, The Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act of 2005, and the Prevention of Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act of 2013. All these acts are aimed at ensuring the right of equality to women by creating favourable conditions for them to thrive and succeed.

Thus, discrimination against women is prohibited under Articles 14, 15(2), 15(3), and 16 of the Indian Constitution, which also provide the state the power to grant protective discrimination in their favour under the right conditions. Under the Indian Constitution, these provisions are a component of the Fundamental Rights.

Health and Nutrition in Constitution

Health and nutrition are issues of utmost concern for a country like India. A large section of our population is still dependent on the government-provided Public Distribution System to acquire food for its daily consumption. At the same time, malnutrition and access to nutritional food are still a challenge for India. 

Similarly, India also struggles with an inadequate health infrastructure. This poses bigger challenges as the population of India continues to grow and is expected to surpass China soon. 

The framers of the Indian constitution were aware of these challenges and they included the right to health under the constitution of India. According to Article 47 of the constitution, the State’s principal duty is to improve the nutritional status and condition of living of its citizens. 

As a result, the Constitution establishes the Right to Food as a Fundamental Right that is guaranteed and enforceable through the constitutional remedy outlined in Article 32. Additionally, the National Food Security Act of 2013 grants legal entitlement to receive subsidised food grains through the targeted Public Distribution System to up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population, respectively. 

Therefore, the Act covers almost two-thirds of the people to get heavily subsidised foodgrains. In an effort to empower women, the Act requires that the head of the home to distribute ration cards be the eldest woman in the household who is at least 18 years old. This indirectly adds to the right to eat in the Indian constitution.

Now, while the Indian constitution does not make health a fundamental right, it provides directives to the state to ensure adequate healthcare facilities for citizens. The right to health is supported by the Directive Principles of State Policy found in Part IV of the Indian Constitution. 

The State is required by Article 39(E) to protect the health of workers. Articles 42 and 47 have previously been discussed above. Additionally, under Article 243G of the Constitution, the Panchayats and Municipalities are given the authority to improve public health in addition to the State.

The Constitution of India Cares For All

The Constitution of India is extremely elaborate, and it covers every aspect of governing the citizens. Various laws ensure equality, health & nutrition, and quality education for the people of India. Additionally, amendments are made to the constitution regularly to ensure these rights in the light of changing local and global conditions.

For example, the National Health Policy and the National Education Policy are introduced and amended regularly. The interpretation of constitutionally guaranteed rights by the courts of the country also reinforces these principles. One example of this is the decriminalization of homosexuality in India.

The Right to Privacy being made a fundamental right through the ruling of the Supreme Court is another such example. All these decisions are made as per the constitution of India which provides the guidance to move in this direction. This is what makes the constitution of India such a special document.

Categories
Smile Livelihood

Skill India and Opportunities for Rural Youth in India

Functional Literacy in India: The Growth Factor of the Workforce
Functional Literacy in India: The Growth Factor of the Workforce

Need for Skill India

A recent Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) report stated that  “the Indian economy has the potential to grow from the current $3 trillion to $9 trillion and $40 trillion by 2030 and 2047, respectively. But this is possible only if the working-age population is productively employed.”

Skill India Mission

This brings us to the relevant topic of how skilled are our youth. With a mission to empower the Indian youth, especially the youth of Rural India, Skill India was launched by several state governments. This is an initiative to train and upskill over 40 crore Indian youth, both men and women, in different industry-related jobs. 

The objective behind this is to create an empowered workforce with the help of various education schemes and training courses. The central ministry has allocated INR 1500 crore towards upskilling and reskilling programs and educational curriculum that will benefit the youth of rural India, who today make up 68% of India’s total population and are in need of better vocation and employment opportunities

National Skill Development Mission

Identifying  prevalent gaps in current education and the lack of opportunities thereof for the rural youth, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship launched the Skill Development Mission on July 15, 2015. This government initiative aims to create a connection between sectors and states to work together for skill training activities. Other than that, it will also focus on expediting decision making across sectors to achieve maximum skilling at scale with speed and quality standards.

To meet the demand of industry, Skill India is training the youth to deliver better possible output in the corporate world. They also provide on-the-job training to the students to give them practical exposure to the actual workplace. With every count of a second, a new individual is joining the Skill India mission, it is showing its impact in all the sectors of our society to take a step ahead towards development.

What is Skills Development?

Skills development is for determining skill gaps and overcoming them. Skill development also refers to acquiring additional capabilities through different and innovative levels of learning and training, which can either be in formal, non-formal, informal or in practical (on the job) formats. 

Rural Youth Development

According to the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), the unemployment rate among rural male and female youth stood at 17.4% and 13.6% respectively in 2020. These numbers indicate that regular jobs with additional benefits are hard to come by for rural youth. It is these issues that have given birth to the Skill India Mission Programme. The primary motive of this programme is to help the youth focus on their work and enhance their technical expertise. 

Once these youngsters are adequately educated, they will get their desired jobs. And that is possible only by skill development and training, which is the solution to this problem. The initiative undertaken by the Government will empower the rural men and women with knowledge, skills and capabilities that will allow them opportunities to better themselves and support their families. 

Why Skill Development Programmes and Schemes

Skill development training schemes focus on skill sets that are essential to make the youth more productive and employable in their workspace. Intending to target the 65% of youth and bridge the knowledge and skill gap, these trainings have been introduced. 

Skill development training allows an individual to learn, grow, and contribute to the economy of the country. Because a profitable economy means improvements in standards of living, better healthcare, and an overall optimistic approach to life. To achieve this, skill development plays a crucial role. 

Challenges Involved in Rural Skill Development 

Whilst the initiative is well-formulated, there are still many hurdles to achieving optimum results. One key issue is technology, which we have discovered during the recent pandemic, is a huge enabler, of lack of access  The rapid shift towards digitization and inability and lack of access to technology in rural India has made it difficult for the rural youth to avail of many of the initiatives designed for them  Being able to leverage technology to make these initiatives sustainable with long-term benefits and then taking that last mile, which is introducing skills training in rural education institutes is probably the biggest challenge to overcome. 

The Solution

Unarguably it is skill development. Only with a systematic and well laid methodology of  identifying the skills gap in youth and providing training to strengthen them will it translate into employment benefits to them. Skill development programs are based on understanding the existing levels of education and capabilities of the rural youth, and then extending support by assisting them proper guidance, infrastructure, opportunities, and encouragement that help them achieve their ambitions.

Types of Skill Development Programmes

Coordinated efforts are needed to develop an integrated approach that improves access to relevant, good quality education and training to all rural women and men. The most basic and key initiatives would be– 

  1. Agriculture-related training and development
  2. Computer and digital training program
  3. Microfinance for entrepreneurs  
  4. Frontline healthcare education schemes

Skills such as the above will go a long way to provide employability and improve livelihood opportunities, reduce poverty, enhance productivity, and promote environmentally sustainable development. All of which will help the country’s socioeconomic growth and progress. 

Rural India Skill Scheme 

Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDY-GKY) is designed especially to provide high quality skill training opportunities to the rural poor and also to establish a larger ecosystem that supports trained candidates to secure a better future. The target group for DDU-GKY is poor rural youth in the age group of 15-35 years. 

Another skill development training program is the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana. This is also a government initiative which ensures uniformity and distribution of skills training to all individuals in rural India. This scheme grants practical and vocational skills to the uneducated and educated unemployed youth of the country. 

The main focus is to help and support the people belonging to the economically weaker sections of the society. The scheme also offers certification programs, which help the rural youth in achieving industry-relevant skills, and thus securing a better life.

Concluding Thoughts

“For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them.”

Aristotle

This inspiring quotation is most fitting to skill development and training, which is the need of the hour for India’s rural youth. As the country grows from strength to strength, a lot depends on the capabilities of its workforce, and that is where skills acquired by rural India will be the same as urban India, and the country’s youth collectively will walk side by side with head held high.

Smile Foundation and Skill Development

Smile Foundation, recognizing the need of the hour has re-oriented its employability training initiative, STeP to fight the challenges posed by unemployment and skills training. Our campaign, Tayyari Kal Ki aims at training & up-skilling the youth between the age of 18-32 years and helping them secure livelihoods with top global brands.

Categories
Health

Necessary to Reduce Non-Communicable Disease Burden in India

Why is it Necessary to Reduce Non-Communicable Disease Burden in India?
Why is it Necessary to Reduce Non-Communicable Disease Burden in India?

India faces many challenges; economic, social, cultural, political, and much more. One of the biggest challenges that the country faces today is in the area of healthcare. Within healthcare, the problem of non-communicable diseases is a major burden for the country.

The non-communicable disease burden in India is extremely high. This can be deduced from the fact that 66% of deaths in the country in 2019 were a result of non-communicable diseases. 

The WHO report revealed that more than 60 lakh people in India died due to these diseases in 2019. Every two seconds, one person under the age of 70 died because they had a non-communicable disease.

This does not only put a major burden on the healthcare infrastructure in India, but also leads to economic loss to the country. This is why it is important to reduce the non-communicable disease burden in India.

What are Non-Communicable Diseases?

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines non-communicable disease as: “Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), also known as chronic diseases, tend to be of long duration and are the result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioural factors.”

As we can see, these types of non-communicable diseases can occur due to varying factors, and this is why they also become one of the biggest problems to deal with. It has also been observed that 86% of premature deaths due to non-communicable diseases occur in medium or low-income families.

This also shows a strong correlation between one’s financial and social condition and the likelihood of succumbing to a non-communicable disease. Now, the non-communicable disease list is long, but let us try to look at a few examples:

Cardiovascular diseases – Diseases related to heart like strokes, cardiac arrest, etc., cause the highest number of deaths.

Diabetes – Commonly called ‘sugar disease’ in India because of the body’s incapability to control insulin levels, Diabetes is one of the biggest problems that India faces today. Diabetes can lead to various other health problems related to eyes, kidney, heart, etc.

Cancer – One of the most-dreaded diseases, Cancers of various types are becoming one of the leading reasons for premature deaths. Due to lack of primary healthcare facilities, many patients are diagnosed much later which makes it difficult to save their lives.

Chronic respiratory diseases – These types of non-communicable diseases are also a result of the environment. Increasing air pollution and where you live can be a leading cause of diseases like asthma. Behavioural reasons like smoking are also a major cause of respiratory diseases.

Mental health issues – Often overlooked, mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and many more are a leading cause of deaths among people. The awareness around mental health is still abysmally low in countries like India which makes it even difficult to access the appropriate medical intervention.

Non-Communicable Disease Burden in India

NCDs can occur because of one’s lifestyle, physical activity, dietary choices, intake of alcohol or tobacco consumption. However, they also result from factors out of an individual’s control, like the environment, genetic factors, and much more.

Research has found that, in India, the onset of non-communicable diseases happens somewhere around 45 years of age. As compared to the developed nations, this occurs a decade earlier. In developed countries, non-communicable diseases occur in the population primarily above the age of 55.

This is evidence of the fact that Indians are at a higher risk of premature deaths due to non-communicable diseases. A 2017 report by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) found that deaths due to non-communicable diseases in India increased from 37.9 % in 1990 to 61.8% in 2016.

This is a massive jump within a period of 25 years. Out of these, the cardiovascular diseases’ proportion went up from 2.9% to 6.6%. Respiratory diseases saw an increase from 2.7% to 4.4%. The biggest jump was in cases of deaths due to diabetes, from 0.7% in 1990 to 2.2% in 2016.

One-third of all the diabetics in the world live in India and China. India also has the second-largest population of diabetics in the world. This increase in the number of diabetes patients is because of the changing lifestyles, consumption of processed food, and increased sugar intake.

All of these problems, combined with India’s struggling healthcare infrastructure, aggravate the burden of non-communicable diseases for the country. A huge percentage of the population suffering from chronic non-communicable diseases but not having access to proper medical care has other costs associated with it.

Report has found that 86% of NCD deaths related to cardiovascular diseases could have been avoided through early detection and treatment. Additionally, nearly half of those with hypertension don’t even know they have it, even though two-thirds of those with the condition reside in low- and middle-income nations.

Research has also found that India has a delayed response to risk factors associated with non-communicable diseases. The information and awareness around these diseases is also insufficient.

There are a number of initiatives that the government has started to deal with the non-communicable disease burden in India.

Some of these are as follows:

  • National Programme for prevention & Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases & stroke (NPCDCS)
  • National Programme for Control of Blindness & Visual Impairment (NPCBVI)
  • National Mental Health Programme (NMHP)
  • National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP)
  • National Programme for the Prevention & Control of Deafness (NPPCD)
  • National Programme for Prevention & Management of Burn Injuries (NPPMBI)

To assure the treatment of common NCDs, NPCDCS has established 677 NCD clinics at the district level, 187 District Cardiac Care Units, 266 District Day Care Centers, and 5392 NCD clinics at the community health centre level.

A comprehensive strategy is required to diminish the effects of NCDs on people and society. To do this, all sectors—including healthcare, finance, transport, education, agribusiness, planning, and others—must work together to lower the risks of NCDs and promote measures to prevent and control them.

Categories
Women Empowerment Education

Major Problems of Women Education in India

Problems of Girl Child Education in India
Problems of Girl Child Education in India

We educate women because it is smart. We educate women because it changes the world. – Drew Faust

Our attention is instantly drawn to the issue of women’s education in India. Due to conservative traditionalism, the standing of women has always been viewed next to than that of men in our nation.

Because of the reliance of women on males for financial support (families didn’t think its important to provide education to girls), they were mostly seen as subservient to men. Despite the fact that women are now increasingly accorded the same status as males, the majority of them continue to live in abject ignorance. More women than men suffer from ignorance and illiteracy, and this scourge is particularly pervasive in rural areas and underdeveloped communities.

Role of Indian Women

Women have a crucial role in fostering civic virtues, reviving the economy, and enacting social changes, as is becoming increasingly clear. Recently, more emphasis is placed on their education due to the rapidly changing situations in the nation. Despite several commissions and committees being occasionally created who give recommendations to address the issues with of women education, several issues still persist in that area.

The primary issues with their schooling are:

(i) An appropriate curriculum for women education

(ii) Lack of social awareness in women

(iii) A lack of female teachers

(iv) Absence of adequate physical infrastructure

(v) Unwillingness of female instructors to work in remote locations;

(vi) Financial challenges

(vii) Transportation issue

(viii) Issue of stagnation and waste

(ix) Issue with co-education

(x) Lack of excitement and attention on the part of the education officials

Problems of Girl Child Education in India

The education of women and girls is essential to the prosperity of a country. The actions done to advance and broaden their education should not be neglected for want of funds. It must be kept in mind that there is still a significant achievement disparity between the schooling of boys and girls, and that in India, the mother serves as the central character of the home. She is essential to our way of life. Therefore, it is crucial that the programmes incorporated for women and girls remain in place.

There is a close connection between the educational process, social and economic life of a nation. Every woman should receive training on how to earn a decent livelihood and life her life to her fullest potential.

In a nation as impoverished as India, there should be zero tolerance for training waste. In recent years, Indian women have experienced a significant awakening. Women’s education is progressing gradually in spite of all barriers and challenges.

They are starting to have an impact on world events. Equal rights are demanded across the nation. In fact, it is pretty evident that there is a huge difference in the education levels of men and women, which has to be closed as quickly as possible.

Our daughters are extremely gifted mentally, physically and emotionally, but these talents must be nurtured and maintained until they reach their full potential as brainy women who look beautiful because of their relentless efforts and perseverance.

Smile Foundation and Women Empowerment

There may be a broader list of problems of girl child education in India that affect how women and girls participate in schools. But India is doing everything in its power to change the numbers. Women won’t stay behind anymore.

Smile Foundation has its own strategy to combat the challenges faced by women in education. It is doing a lot of work to promote women empowerment.

Categories
Health

Strengthening Reproductive Health – a Taboo or a Task?

Strengthening Reproductive Health – a taboo or a task?
Strengthening Reproductive Health – a taboo or a task?

Recently the global population hit the 8 billion mark, the latest billion having been added during the last 12 years. India had the largest contribution of 177 million people to this most recent billion against 73 million people added by China. The United Nations Population Fund projects India to surpass China as the world’s most populous country in 2023. 

As much as the rapid growth of population in India has been a cause of concern over the last few decades, there is finally some sense of relief with India’s Total Fertility Rate going below the Replacement Fertility Rate indicating population stabilization. However, challenges are still galore with respect to awareness and autonomy of sexual and reproductive health in India.

According to the State of World Population report 2022, almost 50% of the pregnancies in India are unintended, over 60% of which end in abortion. Further, 45% of such abortions are unsafe and closely linked to high Maternal Mortality Rates (MMR) in India. Lack of agency, resources and awareness of sexual and reproductive healthcare is primarily responsible for this situation. 

Estimates show 2.4 million Indian women interested in avoiding pregnancy with an unmet need for modern contraception. All this calls for immediate attention, discussion and action to bridge the gaps in reproductive healthcare in India. We delve into the details here:

What is Reproductive Health?

The WHO defines Reproductive Health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in all matters relating to the reproductive system and to its functions and processes.” It further says that reproductive health not only includes the safety and contentment of sex life but also refers to the ability of people to reproduce and the autonomy to decide if, when and how frequently to do so.  

Types of Reproductive Health

Types of reproductive health encompass the health of male and female reproductive system at different stages of life and all biological processes that are linked with reproduction. The main components of reproductive health could be identified as follows:

Adolescent Health

With the onset of puberty in adolescence, both boys and girls experience transition in their physical and psychological development. Menstrual cycle is a complex process that starts in girls at this time along with change in bodily features. 

Boys also experience change in their reproductive organs, physical appearance and voice. Adapting to these changes in their body and mind can be challenging if they do not find right guidance and support.

Sexual Health

This requires a dignified approach to sexuality and sexual relationships and scope of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences free from coercion, violence and discrimination.

Maternal Health

This refers to health of women during pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal period. Maternal health is closely associated with sexual and reproductive health of women and also with the health and well-being of the child.

What are the Problems of Reproductive Health?

Some of the major issues concerning reproductive health and rights in India are:

Lack of Proper Menstrual Management

According to NFHS India (2019-21), 50% of women in India use cloth during menstruation which does not qualify as hygienic protection. Limited sanitary options, period poverty, poor accessibility and affordability of resources result in poor menstrual management. This can lead to reproductive and Urinary Tract infections.  Adding to it, the taboos and restrictions around menstruation make periods a stressful and unpleasant experience for many.

Sexually Transmissible Infections (STIs)

STIs otherwise called reproductive tract infections (RTIs) are an important public health problem in India. Data from ICMR study of 2002-03 puts STI prevalence at 30-35 million episodes per year. Some STIs if left untreated can cause serious and permanent health issues in infected individuals. Adolescent and young adults are disproportionately affected by STIs due to lack of awareness and can have lifelong implications.

Contraception

The NFHS-5 claims that in India, the onus of birth control still largely remains on women. Myths, misconceptions and prevalent social attitudes discourage men from participating in family planning though male sterilization is safer and easier. Male sterilization is as low as 0.3 % and less than one in 10 men use condoms. 

Further evidence suggests, over 30 million married women are unable to use contraception in their reproductive phase and 2 million adolescent women lack access to contemporary contraception.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a complex reproductive process and might have complications before, during or post pregnancy that affect the health of mother, child or both. Timely and suitable healthcare in all phases of pregnancy is utterly important for decreasing risk of maternal and child mortality.

Abortion

Though abortion or medical termination of pregnancy has been legal in India since 1971, women in India face many structural and cultural barriers in accessing safe abortion services. 78% of the 15 million abortions in India are done outside medical facilities.

Ways to Improve Reproductive Health Issues

The UNFPA suggests having a life-cycle approach to reproductive health as Reproductive Health is crucial to a person’s wellbeing at all stages of life. The major areas where we should work to improve reproductive health are:

Information

Creating awareness about reproductive process and importance of reproductive health through proper channels could bust myths. Comprehensive sex education should be imparted to adolescents to guide them in taking care of their reproductive health and make right choices.

Empowerment

Being aware is necessary but not sufficient to ensure good reproductive health. One needs to have the access and affordability to necessary information and healthcare resources and also the freedom to make choices regarding one’s sexual and reproductive life.

Availability of Resources

This is highly essential to ensure that individuals can actually make choices in matters relating to their own bodies and reproductive status. For example, availability of medical supplies like contraceptives, medicines and medical equipment and skilled healthcare professionals etc. can meet the relevant requirements timely and efficiently.

Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR)

SRHR are included in UN SDGs and mandated to be recognized within the framework of human rights. India has huge gaps in its laws and policies relevant to SRHR. Realization of SRHR can be achieved by ensuring individual’s right to-

  • Define their own sexuality, choose their sexual partners and decide their sexual status
  • Decide if, when and whom to marry
  • Decide if, when and by what means and how many kids to have
  • Have access to information, resources, services and support required to ensure the above

Integrated Services

Services across various sectors like healthcare, healthcare professionals, education, transport, legal aid must be strengthened and integrated to build a strong support system for reproductive health care in the country.

Concluding Thoughts

Apart from the numerous strategies and interventions which the government or private bodies can do to improve the status of reproductive health in India, the first and foremost requirement is to acknowledge sexual and reproductive health as integral to general well-being of an individual and thus significant in building a healthy and prosperous nation. 

Only when we change the social perception of sexual and reproductive health from taboo to a necessary task; we can truly make sincere efforts to improve the scenario.

Smile Foundation and Women Healthcare

Smile Foundation cares for women and their reproductive healthcare through its healthcare initiative, Health Cannot Wait. Learn more here!

Categories
Nutrition

Women’s Nutrition in India: A Closer Look

Women's Nutrition in India: A Closer Look
Women's Nutrition in India: A Closer Look

Food is a basic human necessity. It forms the foundation of our very existence as it provides us with the nutrition essential for our physical and mental growth and development. Proper and adequate nutrition builds a healthy population as it impacts health outcomes in every stage of life.

Thus nutrition is critical for individual well-being. And it is also an indicator of socioeconomic development and an important determinant of a nation’s progress.

United Nations’ Data reveals that India accounts for almost 1/3rd of the global burden of under-nutrition. Of special relevance is the children’s and women’s nutrition in India, as it has a series of implications for the overall social and economic development of the nation.

Nutrition – Role, Importance and Deciding Factors

Nutritional status refers to the physiological condition of an individual resulting from the intake, digestion, absorption, and utilisation of nutrients from one’s diet. A deficiency of these essential nutrients leads to the problem of malnutrition. It then manifests itself in under-nutrition, obesity, or other nutrition-related ailments.

In order to achieve and sustain good nutritional status, food security is the most important prerequisite. According to the United Nations FAO, food security involves three dimensions which are:

  •  Adequate availability of food supplies
  • Assured access to enough food for all individuals
  • Suitable utilisation of food supplies to provide a balanced diet

While the importance of nutrition is well-acknowledged and is included in the United Nations SDG 2 as Zero Hunger which aims to promote food security for all and end hunger and all forms of malnutrition by 2030; the actual progress made in eradicating hunger and malnutrition needs improvement with COVID-19 pandemic taking the challenge a few notches higher.

Conflict, climatic vagaries, and economic slowdowns are the major factors affecting the food security and nutrition of people across the globe, more so of the economically weak and marginalised classes. Bringing home the discussion, let’s delve into India’s position on the nutrition scale.

Nutrition in India: Status and Challenges

India’s nutritional profile can be analysed by gauging her performance in progress toward the Global Nutrition Targets (GNT) set by WHO in 2012. These 6 GNTs expected to be achieved by 2025 are:

  • Reducing anaemia among women of reproductive age by 50%
  • Reducing low birth weight by 30%
  • At least a 50% increase in the rate of exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months after birth
  • Reduction of stunting among children under 5 years by 40%
  • Reducing and maintaining childhood wasting at less than 5%
  • Ensuring there is no increase in childhood overweight

The Global Nutrition Report 2022 states while India is ‘on course’ to meet the targets of maternal, infant, and young child nutrition (MIYCN), childhood overweight, and childhood stunting; our country needs to make considerable progress to meet the target of childhood wasting or anaemia reduction among women of reproductive age.

Statistics show 34.7% of children less than 5 years of age are affected by stunting and 17.3 % by wasting which are both higher than the average rates for Asia.

Girl Child Nutrition in India

Nourishment is the right and need of every child, but the availability and access to nutrients are affected by many factors like food security, socio-economic status, etc. In India, where gender discrimination is still prevalent in many sections of society, the girl child and women’s nutrition in India is often found at a larger disadvantage receiving poor and inadequate nutrition.

Data from National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 5 highlights that child mortality under 5 years is 8.3 % higher in girls than boys and malnutrition is a significant contributing factor.

Women’s Nutrition in India

While nutrition is crucial to the health of all individuals, the role of nutrition in women’s health is particularly important. The impacts of malnutrition might not be very evident in the short term but lead to serious health complications later on. Women are the bearers of children and primary caretakers of the entire family; their health status, directly and indirectly, impacts their family and society at large.

Undernutrition of girls from early childhood and adolescence not only has health impacts on the girls but leads to an intergenerational cycle of undernourishment. This is because undernourished mothers are more likely to deliver low-birth-weight babies. They are further vulnerable to conditions like child mortality, stunting, wasting, low immunity, risk of infections, and other morbidities.

Malnutrition in women manifests in many forms like low Body Mass Index (BMI) and anaemia. Many underweight women are also stunted which puts them at high risk of obstetric complications.

Reports suggest that anaemia is an outcome of nutritional deficiency that is on the rise among children, adolescents, and women in India. There is no satisfying progress in controlling the situation. NFHS 5 reveals that 57% of women of reproductive age and 67.1% of children under 5 years of age in India are anaemic.

Strategies to Overcome Children’s and Women’s Nutrition in India

Prevention and combating malnutrition in women is highly critical to prevent malnutrition in children and building a healthy population. The government has designed and implemented many nutritional intervention programmes over the past many decades. Here’s a look at some of the interventions from the past to present times:

Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS): Launched in 1975, this is India’s primary nutrition and child development programme. It integrates health, education, and nutritional interventions through a network of Anganwadi centres to take care of the overall well-being of children.

The primary beneficiaries are children below 6 years, pregnant women, and lactating mothers. ICDS adopts measures like growth promotion and monitoring, health checks, supplementary nutrition programme, health education as well as preschool education.

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY): Launched under the ICDS umbrella, this is a maternity benefit programme that provides partial wage compensation of INR 5000 to pregnant and lactating women. This is done to support safe delivery and ensure good nutrition and feeding practices.

POSHAN Abhiyaan: Flagship National Nutrition Mission of the Government of India launched in 2017 with a vision to improve the nutritional outcomes of children, adolescents, pregnant women, and lactating mothers. This mission integrates the use of technology, uses the convergence of different modules & departments, and maps-related nutritional interventions. It also tries to optimise the function of Anganwadi centres etc. to achieve set nutritional targets.

Conclusion

Improving

  • food security across socio-economic strata,
  • micro-level strategies,
  • integration of various nutrition-related programmes,
  • regular monitoring,
  • promoting nutritional literacy & health education for malnutrition of children,
  • following a life-cycle approach to the nutritional needs of women & children by addressing nutritional requirements at each life stage,
  • growth monitoring of expectant mothers and infants,
  • food fortification and
  • promoting the intake of a balanced diet

can be effective strategies to tackle malnutrition in India.

Besides this, individual efforts on part of parents to educate and feed nutritious food to their children can also go a long way in initiating the much-needed change in our approach towards nutrition.  

Smile Foundation launched its women empowerment programme, Swabhiman in 2005 to reach out to marginalised women and adolescent girls. The programme aims to enhance their access to basic healthcare and nutrition. It also wants to disseminate knowledge about the different government schemes and bring an overall improvement in the quality of their lives. Read more here!

Categories
Women Empowerment Health

Why Period Poverty In India Needs A Proper Discussion?

Why Period Poverty In India Needs A Proper Discussion?
Why Period Poverty In India Needs A Proper Discussion?

We have all heard of the taboos associated with menstruation or periods in India. A natural process like the menstrual cycle is still discussed in hushed voices. Even today, reports of women subjected to isolation during their periods, appear in the media. It has been a long-discussed topic. 

However, another big challenge associated with this is the lack of access to menstrual hygiene products. Women start experiencing a regular period cycle once they reach 11 or 12 years of age. They live with it as a part of their daily lives for decades.

This makes it an extremely important area to improve. Poor access to menstrual hygiene services and products impacts every woman, and that too as frequently as once a month. Even then, period poverty is still a major issue in India. 

But, period poverty is not just about poor access to resources. It is also about a lack of awareness and knowledge. So, before we talk about why we need a discussion around period poverty, let us first understand what it means.

What is Period Poverty?

Simply put, period poverty is the set of challenges a menstruating woman faces in accessing or affording menstrual products. It also refers to the lack of information about the issue. This further perpetuates archaic traditions, customs, and dogmatic thinking around periods. 

According to data, one in five girls has to quit school every year because of poor access to menstrual hygiene products. For those who continue, 40% have to skip classes during their period days which has a serious negative impact on their education and classroom performance.

The misinformation about women’s menstrual cycle is so prevalent event today that 70% of mothers still consider it dirty. All these problems are further exacerbated due to the financial constraints that women coming from poor households face. 

More Data On Women Menstruation and Period Poverty

Data shows that around 50% of women in India still use menstrual clothes during their periods. Only around 1.7% of women use products like tampons. Also, the use of sanitary napkins is directly proportional to the income level of families. In the poorest families, only around 53% of women use hygienic menstrual products.

Another study shows that 71% of girls in India are not aware of women period cycle or menstruation before their first periods. Many people in rural India don’t practice proper menstruation hygiene. 

Things are challenging since there is a lack of proper restrooms, menstrual products, and water. 15000 of the 10.83 lakh government schools in the nation do not have restrooms, according to official statistics. The problem for so many teenage menstruators is worsened by the conspicuous lack of sanitary facilities.

All of these factors can be influenced and improved if we work towards them with sincerity. This is why period poverty in India needs a proper discussion today. Data has shown that women who have more than 12 years of schooling are most likely to use hygienic methods during menstruation. 

At the same time, those who have no exposure to schooling are least likely to do the same. All of these facts highlight how critical the problem of period poverty in India is. It is directly related to the affordability of people, public infrastructure, education, and awareness of the issue in society.

Women Menstruation and Period Poverty: Solutions?

Now that we understand the challenges related to women’s menstruation and the concept of period poverty, the question to ask is – how can we overcome these challenges? Are there no solutions to these problems? Certainly, the answer to this is – yes, there are. 

All the problems that we highlighted above are solvable, provided we have the determination to take the necessary steps in the right direction. But to do that, we must first agree upon the fact that addressing period poverty is one of the biggest priorities for any country today. 

In today’s modern world, where technology like Artificial Intelligence is paving the way for transformative changes, we cannot deprive our women of a basic right like access to quality menstrual hygiene.

So, to fight all these challenges, we must look at these steps:

Challenge The Taboo

The cultural barrier is still one of the biggest in India and other societies as well. Because there is an associated element of shame with periods, it stops any productive conversation around it from happening openly. Therefore, the first step should be to annihilate these cultural barriers that make it difficult for women to even access necessary knowledge around periods.

Encourage Conversations Around Women Menstruation

Once the taboos are removed, the next step should be to start an open and honest conversation. Everyone, including boys, needs education about periods. This will not only help them empathise but will also create a more equitable society for women where they can talk about menstruation openly with their male family members and friends.

Bring Policy-level Changes

While social and cultural changes are important, what we also need desperately is strong policies from the government. If we do not have policies that favor women in this area, like providing subsidies on menstrual hygiene products or distributing free products to women living in poverty, then we will not be able to eliminate period poverty. 

Policies like making period products available in schools, public spaces, etc., at affordable prices will significantly improve access.

Promote Sustainable Alternatives

Sanitary pads are among the most preferred menstrual hygiene products. However, they are also environmentally damaging. At the same time, women have to use multiple pads during one period cycle depending upon their flow. This means, one woman may end up using around 10 sanitary napkins in a month. This can be very expensive for anyone who cannot afford to spend so much money. 

Therefore, sustainable products like menstrual cups, which are made of silicone and may last up to 12 years, should be promoted and sold at subsidized prices. Since they can be used many times, they are cheaper in the long run and also cause less damage to the environment.

Support from NGOs

Many non-government organisations, including Smile Foundation, are already working in this area to reduce period poverty in rural as well as urban spaces. What we need is to expand the reach and take these initiatives to more and more people. This way, we will be able to eliminate period poverty faster. 

However, this can be achieved only with the help and support of generous donors. Therefore, a proper discussion around period poverty only can create opportunities for everyone to come together and work towards its eradication.

Categories
Education

Relevance of Sex Education for Children in Modern India

Sex Education for Children in Modern India

Sex education is extremely important in today’s age. As we are seeing the world around us change, the relevance of sex education in modern India has become stronger. It is because everyone is exposed to a lot of information on the internet. Teenagers can access information about sex through dubious sources.

This information can give them wrong ideas about sex, sexual health, and sexual wellness. Therefore, it becomes crucial that sex education is treated as a priority today. This is also important to combat the misinformation and wrong influences coming from porn or sexual content.

Sexologists, psychologists, and behavioral scientists opine that teenagers are curious about sex. Their body is going through a transformation, and they want to understand these changes. Therefore, suppressing or restricting the flow of information to them is not a good idea.

The only constructive approach in this situation is to talk to teenagers about sex in a healthy manner. As per reports, western countries are already seeing the perils of porn addiction. Consuming violent sexual content on the internet can also form incorrect expectations about sex among teenagers.

At the same time, insufficient awareness of sex can also put them in a difficult situation. Sex education creates alertness and teenagers can make better decisions to avoid any sexually transmitted infections or diseases.

Sex Education in India

When we look at the status of sex education in rural India, the situation is comparatively poorer than in urban India. What we have observed so far is that sex education is primarily restricted to reproductive health education. India, where every fifth person is between the ages of 10 and 19, has the greatest proportion of adolescents in the world (approximately 253 million), according to UNICEF.

This limits the scope of sex education in rural India and urban India as well. It also eliminates or blocks a lot of important information that needs to reach adolescents, teenagers, and young adults. It is especially important for rural India because of the information asymmetry and stronger social taboos.

If we look at the facts, then we will be surprised. In 2012, at the London Summit on Family Planning, India promised to give 234 million teenagers and 200 million couples free access to family planning services and supplies by 2020. However, how much was achieved is still a mystery.

But everything is not so bleak. There are interventions being made in certain rural pockets which are showing promising results. In Barwani, a remote and backward district in Madhya Pradesh, ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, school teachers, and panchayat members have
been equipped to empower rural youth in taking care of their reproductive and sexual health.

A similar trend has been observed in Kanpur Dehat district of rural Uttar Pradesh. An edutainment show like ‘Mai Kuch Bhi Kar Sakti Hoon’ is creating awareness among people and is being used to inform people about teenage pregnancies, menstrual needs, sexual health, birth control, etc. The show has also had an impact in other rural areas in Bihar.

Sexual Wellness and Women

The victims of poor sexual awareness are primarily women. It is women who suffer most because of social taboos, menstrual issues, or unwarranted pregnancies. In 2012, a cross-sectional survey of 1381 young married and unmarried women (15–24 years old) from three rural community development blocks in Jharkhand, India, was carried out.

It was found in the research that the participants in the study married young and had early pregnancies. Women also had lower awareness and knowledge about contraception, sex, pregnancy, and reproductive health. They also had little control over their sexual lives and decision-making. This is all despite all the national policies and programs.

When women are educated and aware of sexual wellness, they make better reproductive decisions. This means fewer teenage pregnancies, child mortality, or sexually transmitted infections. However, women are also restricted from accessing information related to sex and sexual wellness. This is why sex education in modern India is extremely important.

Parents’ Role in Sex Education

Now that we understand the importance of sex education in rural India and sexual awareness among women, let us talk about an important factor. While sex education can be imparted through schools, colleges, and infotainment; it is the parent’s role in sex education that is most crucial.

Studies in the past have found that the majority of parents in India are reluctant to talk about sex with their children. In fact, a large percentage of parents never talked about sex with their children. It was discovered that 87% of parents in rural areas and 67% of parents in urban areas had insufficient knowledge of sex education.

Therefore, the sex education advice for parents is that they educate themselves first. They should also let go of their inhibitions and reservations. Today, parents cannot avoid the conversation around sex. This is because they should be the primary source of sex-related
information for their adolescent children.

However, there is a bright side to all this. The younger population in India is more aware of the importance of sex education. Earlier research has found that more than 90% of students think sex education in school curriculum is important. 60% also stated that they had exposure to sex education in school. However, only 45% said that they had received appropriate sex education.

Parents who are worried about criticism and ridicule from society impose restrictive social norms on their children. Parents want to make sure their daughters stay out of premarital relationships, sex, and pregnancy, yet talking to them about puberty, sex, and reproduction is still frowned upon.

If parents develop an environment of trust and discuss things openly with their children, they can help their children in many ways. Teenagers who cannot talk to their parents about sex often share their problems with friends or find solutions through the Internet. All of this can be dangerous for teenagers in many ways.

Sex Education: The Way Forward

The World Health Organization defines Sex Education as a “broad program that aims to build a strong foundation for lifelong sexual health by acquiring information and attitudes, beliefs and values about one’s identity, relationships, and intimacy.”

By now, we understand why sex education is important and what role everyone has to play in it. Parents, schools, and society; everyone must come together to ensure proper sex education in modern India. This can only be made possible by discarding the taboos and the myths.

Many parents and teachers worry that talking about sex with teenagers will motivate them to have more sex. However, studies have found this to be untrue. In fact, research has found that more teenagers have already had sex than estimated by adults.

In this case, the only way to provide accurate information and make teenagers feel safe is by creating a conducive environment for sex education. Whether it is sex education in rural India or urban India, intervention from all stakeholders is needed.

Smile Foundation through its flagship initiative, Mission Education is trying to help children who have the zeal to transform their lives.

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