Indian film flags importance of sex education in schools, but kids not allowed to watch it

NEW DELHI - It was Aarush Varma’s big screen debut. The 16-year-old made grand plans to watch the film’s premiere at a theatre, soaking in the public adulation. His family even envisaged inviting his classmates and friends for a special screening of the movie.The film, OMG 2, a Hindi drama that flags the importance of sex education in schools, was given an adult certification by India’s Central Board of Film Certification , making its viewing permissible only to those above 18.

His anguished father realises Vivek has not committed any wrong, but has instead become a victim of sexual health misinformation as well as bullying. The coyness of India’s censors has, however, not stopped the film from prompting a wider discussion on the lack of sex education in Indian schools and its growing importance.

India is the most populous country in the world, with more than 30 per cent of its population comprising adolescent and young people between the age of 10 to 24. Teen pregnancies and child sexual abuse continues to be a major problem for India. According to a government survey conducted between 2019 and 2021, the percentage of girls aged 15-19 who are either already mothers or pregnant stood at 6.8 per cent, only marginally lower from 7.9 per cent in 2015-16.

While access to such entertainment content has made people a “little bit more accepting” about sex, she noted there has also been a “reactionary sort of resurgence of prudishness” that is happening as well. “I took it as an opportunity to tell him whatever I wanted to tell him, maybe much in advance, because I realised that if there’s someone in his circle who’s talking about porn, then there is much more they would be talking about.”

Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Meet the Indian teenager who is unable to watch the film he has acted inIndia's censors have given an adult certification to a Bollywood film that talks about the need for sex education in schools Read more at straitstimes.com.
Source: The Straits Times - 🏆 8. / 63 Read more »

Trudeau links murder of Sikh separatist to Indian government, triggering diplomatic rowIndia dismissed allegations as “absurd” and “motivated” as it expelled a Canadian diplomat in a tit for tat move. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Source: STForeignDesk - 🏆 4. / 71 Read more »

Chinese host hit in the face by nunchucks, soldiers on even when nose bleedsWe feel bad for laughing.
Source: TODAYonline - 🏆 1. / 99 Read more »

Newater, desalination ensure S’pore’s water security even with El Nino’s dry weatherCountry has invested $3 billion in past five years to strengthen water security, drought resilience. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Source: straits_times - 🏆 5. / 69 Read more »

Today in Pictures, Sept 19, 2023Read more at straitstimes.com.
Source: straits_times - 🏆 5. / 69 Read more »

Singapore’s Raffles Hotel and Capella make inaugural World’s 50 Best Hotels listRaffles Hotel and Capella were ranked at 17th and 28th respectively Read more at straitstimes.com.
Source: STForeignDesk - 🏆 4. / 71 Read more »