Sex education can combat sexual crime: Kothari

vadodara: sex education is an important social need which when introduced in the pre-and post adolescence stage can help to curb sexual crime, assault and unwanted pregnancy, says indian association of sex educators, counsellors and therapists president prakash kothari. he was here to speak to school teachers, parents and the students and staff of the msu department of human development and family studies.the topic was the 'five ws of sex education - why, when, where, what and whom to? "from the point of view of economics, too, sex education is a cost effective strategy as one third of our population comprises adolescence the stage when this education should be imparted", he said. "sex education is not just about sex. it is a broader topic that covers psychology, anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, emotions, love, conception, contraception, gender roles, relationship and intimacy. unfortunately not all are able to understand this and so do not give sex education its rightful place", he said. "sex education was not required 100 years ago due to early marriages. but vatsyayan had expressed his opinion on this subject and said that the 'prag yauvan' or the pre-adolescence stage is the right time to introduce sex education. "though basic sex education begins from cradle, during the pre-adolescence stage sex education is of vital importance as in this period the youngsters undergo physical changes coupled with upsurge of hormones. this is therefore an important age when parents and teachers should introduce the subject", he said. though sex education for children is still not talked about, indians are not shy to broach this topic - if there are experts willing to give information. "for a population of one billion we have just one department of sexual medicine in the country - at the kem hospital in mumbai. each week hundreds of patients seek advice. parents and teachers should educate the child as and when the occasion arises. if children learn about sex from their peers they would get information filled more with fantasy than facts. this is dangerous and can ruin marriages.