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Health Ministry Takes A Progressive View In Its Resource Material On Adolescent Health
The health kit for adolescents addresses same-sex attraction with maturity. (BIJU BORO/AFP/Getty Images)
In a bid to reach out to 26 crore adolescents in India, the Health Ministry has decided to employ 1.65 lakh peer educators who will be called “Saathiya”. The resource kit prepared for these educators was unveiled yesterday (20 February) by Health Secretary C K Mishra. What’s surprising is that the kit addresses same-sex attraction with maturity, and also talks about contraception and gender-based violence in depth.
In addition, the resource material not only sensitises adolescents on gender roles and sexuality but also discusses the practice of safe sex. Mishra was quoted by The Indian Express as saying,
Trained by the health department with the help of the resource material, the educators will be doing voluntary work. They will, however, be entitled to a “non-monetary” payment equivalent to Rs 50 per month in the form of magazine subscriptions, mobile recharge or other means as decided by the state.
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