"TBBT HAS PUT YOUTH AT THE CENTRE OF THE DISCOURSE 99

Mohammed Asif is Executive Director and Dr Komal Goswami is Chief of Party at Plan International (India Chapter). While Asif leads the organisation’s initiatives in welfare and development for children and equality for girls and women in India, Goswami leads the purposedriven initiatives of Reckitt executed through PLAN India. In an interview with Naina Gautam, they talk about The Birds and Bees Talk (TBBT) initiative, the opportunities, the achievements and the challenges so far. Excerpts:

- Naina Gautam

How has the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) narrative developed in the country?

Mohammed Asif: Sexual reproductive health rights and services (SRHR) is an integral component of public health and wellness; and the Government of India through its Rashtriya Kishore Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) is doing much in this domain. Several civil society organisations and CSR partners, including Plan India and Reckitt, have joined hands with the government to achieve the outcomes of the RKSK programme.

Among other things, the RKSK emphasises on improving knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of adolescent and young girls and boys on sexual and reproductive health, promote menstrual hygiene for all girls and reduce teenage pregnancies. It aims to establish adolescentfriendly health facilities for improved and quality youth and adolescent-friendly SRHR and HIV services that are accessible, affordable, acceptable, equitable, appropriate and effective.

Komal Goswami: SRHR is not merely about imparting biological knowledge; it is an approach that nurtures gender equality, challenges harmful societal norms, and promotes respect for diversity. India has long been celebrated for its progressive attitudes towards sexuality and gender. The temples of Khajuraho, the Kandariya Mahadev Temple stand as enduring testament to India’s approach to sexuality education. Narratives of Ardhanarishvara and Shikhandi provide further insight into India’s progressive stance.

Nevertheless, in the present day, implementing SRHR education in India has not been without its challenges. We continue to struggle in some of the educational systems, facing ongoing obstacles despite efforts to integrate it.

What about TBBT?