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Studies show that Indians -- not just adolescents and the youth, but even men getting married -- do not know enough about sex, thereby increasing the possibility of marital rape and other forms of sexual violence.
Tarshi, a non-governmental organisation running a helpline on sexual information, received over 59,000 calls from men, most of them entering into arranged marriages, seeking information about the woman anatomy, suhag raat, what would happen if they do not perform on the first night and also on how to make their wives happy and sexually fulfilled.
Later, many of these men called back thanking how the information proved useful in preventing marital rape, informed Radhika Chandiramani, executive director of Tarshi.
An analysis of the data showed 70 per cent of the callers were Hindi-speaking and below 30 years of age while 33 per cent were in the age group of 15 to 24 indicating that young people do have need but no source to receive sex information in a positive manner, she pointed out, adding that it affirmed that both young and old have the right to information about safe and healthy sex and enjoy their sexuality.
"However, in India right from the beginning youngsters are taught that sexuality is not a good thing. Kids receive many messages that reinforce this: behave yourself, be a good girl/boy, sit with legs together (if your are a girl), don't act sissy (if you are a boy) and so on. Teens are guided to be careful not to keep bad company so that they do not taste the 'exotic fruit' of sexuality until they are ready for it. Even for people of full age or status sexuality is restricted to certain socially prescribed, legitimate aspects of sexuality and its dangers like unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases including HIV," she said.
According to Radhika, the present controversy on sex education in schools is opposed on the grounds of it being anti-ethical to Indian culture while the WHO reports conversely show that it resulted in delayed age of entering into sexual relationship, reduced number of partners, increase use of safer sex and contraception and other positive behaviour.
To highlight the issue, a satellite session on 'More than Pleasure: New Issues in Affirming Sexuality in Asia' would be held at the 4th Asia Pacific Conference on Sexual and Reproductive Rights being orgnised in Hyderabad on October 29.
The conference, being organised by United Nations Population Fund, would deliberate in detail all aspects of sexual and reproductive rights, including sex education, declining sex ratio, physical and sexual violence, rapid fertility decline and demographic transition in the region.
A conference on the theme 'New Frontiers in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights' would be inaugurated by Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y Rajasekhara Reddy and Minister of State for Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdhury, UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmad Obaid and many other national and international experts would address the three-day conference.