Talking Sexuality within Community Where SEX is TABOO: a Rural Experience in North India

Kumar J¹*

1. Mamta Health Institute for Mother and Child, Greater Kailash Enclave-II, New Delhi, India

In Varanasi, prime centre of Hindus, tradition is deep into their ethos. Working population is largely affected by ill impact of return migration precipitating HIV/AIDS. Young People are denied from their basic ‘Right to information’.

Mamta, an NGO took initiatives to work with Young people in the rural areas of Varanasi. Need assessment was done and it emerged that the young people did not have correct basic information regarding sexuality. Peer Educators were identified and Youth Information Centers were initiated within the community. With the support from the community and elected grass root leaders in a span of eighteen months now, it is not only feasible to talk on sexuality but also to integrate sexuality education with the formal education/ school system. With the active participation of parents, teachers and young people, local centric/ culture specific curriculum on Sexuality Education is being designed on pilot basis in partnership with RFSU of Sweden, which will be further up-scaled through local network of organizations and institutions.

Participation from the community has encouraged taking it further. More than five thousand young people and their parents extended their support by actively participating in the programme that has helped in advocacy on the issue. Mamta is taking lead in capacitating young people to make them comfortable with their sexuality, not only in Varanasi, but also in other parts of India with their local partners working at community level.

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