Terming many subjects in the school syllabus as being of “no use” to children later in life, Education Minister Manish Sisodia said on Monday that boys and girls needed to be taught about menstruation and puberty.
Mr. Sisodia, who is also the Deputy Chief Minister, was addressing the National Menstrual Conclave organised by NGO Sachhi Saheli. According to him, not just girls, but boys too need the right information as they go through puberty. “Our textbooks are slaves to conventions...Menstruation is seen as impure, then why would it be discussed in books in schools, which are seen as temples of learning,” said the Deputy Chief Minister.
Talking about the need to break myths and approaching menstruation and puberty more openly, Mr. Sisodia added that he would ask the Delhi government’s Education Department to work on sensitising students in this regard.
Before Mr. Sisodia’s address to the crowd, students from Delhi government schools presented skits and musical performances based on taboos surrounding menstruation and the need for girls to be empowered.
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Among those present at the event were Dr. K.K. Aggarwal, president of the Indian Medical Association, who offered the association’s help to sensitise as many as 16 lakh students of Delhi government schools.
Dr. Surbhi Singh, a gynaecologist and founder of Sachhi Saheli, said the NGO would continue working with school girls. The NGO works with Delhi government schools to sensitise girls about menstruation and breaking the myths around it.
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