New York Times: India’s Sex-Ed Controversy
“India’s health minister, Harsh Vardhan, is on the defensive after he questioned the focus on condom use in the fight against the spread of HIV. Late last month, Dr. Vardhan, who is a surgeon by profession, defended a call on his website to ban sex education. … Dr. Vardhan proposes an alternate sex education program that he says respects traditional Indian values; he also recommends yoga and celibacy. As for HIV and AIDS, Dr. Vardhan believes protecting the integrity of heterosexual marriage should come before promoting the use of condoms. While Dr. Vardhan has a right to his personal beliefs, imposing the morality of the Hindu right on India’s health policies will only put the public at risk…” (7/9).