Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) constitute an indispensable facet of overall well-being and empowerment. As a concerned individual regarding the state of SRHR in India, my dream envisions a society where each person can exercise their rights and access comprehensive sexual and reproductive healthcare. In this article, I will outline my SRHR dream for India and discuss the key areas necessitating attention and action.

Comprehensive and Age-Appropriate Sex Education

One of the fundamental pillars of SRHR is comprehensive and age-appropriate sex education. My vision for India includes a robust education system that imparts scientifically accurate information about sexuality, consent, contraceptives, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Commencing this education from an early age and sustaining it throughout an individual's life empowers them to make informed decisions and foster healthy relationships.

Accessible and Affordable Healthcare

Ensuring SRHR for all necessitates the presence of accessible and affordable healthcare services throughout India. My aspiration is to witness a healthcare system delivering quality sexual and reproductive healthcare, encompassing family planning services, contraceptives, prenatal and postnatal care, safe abortion services, and STI treatment. Particular emphasis should be placed on marginalised communities and rural areas to bridge existing gaps in healthcare access.

Empowering Women and Girls

Empowering women and girls stands as a pivotal element in achieving SRHR goals. My dream for India involves crafting an environment wherein women and girls can exercise autonomy over their bodies, sexuality, and reproductive choices without encountering discrimination or violence. This encompasses the promotion of gender equality, the eradication of harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation, and ensuring access to safe and legal abortion services.

Breaking the Stigma

The stigma surrounding SRHR issues constitutes a significant barrier to progress. My vision is to see a society that dispels silence and eradicates the stigma associated with subjects like sexual orientation, gender identity, menstruation, and sexual health. This can be accomplished through awareness campaigns, media representation, and the establishment of safe spaces for discussions, thereby encouraging open dialogue and fostering acceptance.

Youth Engagement and Participation

Engaging and involving young people in decision-making processes is critical for shaping SRHR policies and programs. My aspiration for India encompasses the creation of youth-friendly platforms where young individuals can actively participate, share their perspectives, and contribute to the design and implementation of SRHR initiatives. Investing in youth leadership and affording them opportunities to advocate for their rights will result in a more inclusive and effective approach.

Realising my SRHR dream for India necessitates a comprehensive and multi-sectoral effort. By prioritising comprehensive sex education, ensuring accessible healthcare, empowering women and girls, breaking the stigma, and engaging youth, we can create a society where every individual's SRHR is respected and protected. Together, we can build a future where sexual and reproductive health and rights are upheld, contributing to healthier and more empowered communities across India.

About the Author

Jagriti is a first-year graduate student at Maitreyi College, University of Delhi and has been working on awareness raising on menstrual health & hygiene, contraceptive use & gender equality for the past 2 years, particularly in the rural context. because there were so many people at the local level who even now hesitate to talk about the menstrual cycle, even women, and there were many men who actually don't know what it is. Seeing the dangers posed by a lack of access to SRH information and services in the lives of most marginalised people, Jagriti isommitted to creating a world where every individual has access to safe, quality, and stigma-free SRHR services and excited to leverage the Youth Ke Bol platform to further this. In her free time, Jagriti enjoys doing craft-related work and spending time with her family and friends.