50% of India’s population is below the age of 24. That means with a population of over 1.5 billion young people India has the largest youth population in the world! If we are to benefit from this youth bulge policy makers have to start taking into account attitudes and behaviors of young people while framing policies that affect our health and lifestyle.
Why, you ask?
India is one of the fastest growing economies. For it to remain so, the single most important thing is to have strong and healthy workforce. But the harsh reality is that most young people in the age group of 15- 24 lack basic knowledge of nutrition, sexual well-being, family planning and contraceptive methods, HIV/AIDS and menstrual health, even though 50% women and 20% men are already married by this time!
Even with the best of intentions, policy makers often tend to make certain decisions that do not serve the best interests of, and have may detrimental effects on the youth. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) recently banned the telecast of condom advertisements between 6am to 10pm on the grounds that such advertisements create “unhealthy practices” and were “indecent and impact children”. However, a Lancet study conducted in 2017 estimated that 48% of pregnancies in India that resulted in abortions were unintended. While on one hand this calls for promotion of contraceptives and family planning, at the same time, banning advertisements that create awareness of sexual well being, is paradoxical. Therefore, policies that empower individuals with informed decision-making need to be congruent with ground realities. Once equipped with reliable and accurate information, young people can assert their rights to initiate policy changes that have larger benefits for the health and wellbeing of society.
In such a rapidly changing policy scenario, your opinion matters. Take this survey to help policy makers understand the lifestyle, well being, and sexual health preferences of the world’s youngest population!
Featured image for representational purposes only.