The health ministry launched the Saathiya Resource Kit this week on adolescent health issues. The book states that same-sex attraction is normal and so is opposite sex attraction. It further said, “It is alright for boys to like things like cooking or designing and for girls to like talking too much or dress like boys.” The health ministry also outlined its plan to have 1.6 lakh peer educators on the field to answer queries from teenagers and to also impart age-appropriate life lessons to them. We talk to celebrities and health experts about their reactions, if there are any other ways that they think the health ministry can promote mental health and break stereotypes, which other stereotypes would they like busted following boys can cry, boys can cook and girls can dress like boys, and if such actions should be taken at an earlier age than adolescence.
‘Better late than never’
Dr Manoj Beno, Corporate Health Care Expert
I welcome this initiative — better late than never. But, we have a lot of catching up to do in comparison to the West. Even when you take into account their films, Hollywood has made movies in which parents talk about sex or other sensitive topics with their children, something that is still not common here. I’m not saying we have to follow them, but we should start opening up with adolescents more. Else, they will only be influenced by western culture — in a wrong way.
‘The kids will now respect their peers’
Anwesh Sahoo, Mr Gay World India
It’s a great move by the ministry. We live in a society where the concept of gender is binary and anybody who falls outside this concept is looked down upon. I would also want them to teach the kids about the huge spectrum of gender in future as well. But right now, even this move is commendable. I had to face a lot because I chose to be a belly dancer, which is not considered manly. Even liking the colour pink was such an issue. But now if kids are taught the right lessons at an impressionable age, I think they will respect their peers even if and when they choose to be different from others.
‘A very progressive and welcome step’
Pallav Patankar, Public health professional and lgbtq activist
I think it is a welcome step, — very progressive. It is like a beacon of hope amidst the whole right-wing rhetoric. Now there is another issue in the picture. Today, there is ambiguity around which schools offer that and most schools just don’t. Then there are parents having issues with both the inclusion of sex-ed and the exclusion. Therefore the generation today is pretty confused about this — on the hand, they are being bombarded by information on the Internet and they don’t really know how to assemble it all and to know better about the real space. The kit will promote clarity on these issues and a good discourse, therefore a less likelihood of abuse and lesser STDs among children.
‘Let the students learn through experiences’
Sajin Baabu, film director
Isn’t society the right place from where students should learn these lessons and have a better understanding of oneself? Rather than forcing them to sit inside a classroom and take notes, think of providing a favourable environment so that they can be involved in society and learn through art, reading, sights and experiences.
‘The ministry can also open counselling centres’
Gita Karan, Founder, Gitanjali Group of Schools
It is nice that the health ministry is addressing such issues but the actual talk should start happening much before the kids hit adolescence. The right age could be nine years and their parents should initiate the talk then. The ministry can also open counselling centres. In India, people generally are not open to attend private counselling centres. Moreover, these centres are expensive.
‘Theatre yields best outcomes’
Abhishek Iyengar, theatre playwright and director
One of the most effective mediums to break stereotypes is theatre. There are a lot of art-based organisations who are working to their fullest capacity in order to make sure stereotypes among adolescents are broken. The government can easily tie up with these organisations and use the medium of learning to bring a big awareness and change. Since these mediums work at a psychological level, they are known to yield the best outcomes as compared to other methods.
