Changing social norms is one of the biggest challenges for India to address the needs of the next generation. Even before the pandemic, pervasive negative social norms, health system barriers and gender inequality hindered universal access to SRHR as envisioned under the Programme of Action of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). The current government, with programmes such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP), has made some efforts to challenge existing social norms and has underlined that investments in social causes must go alongside economic progress. All of these practices are rooted in social norms, beliefs and practices that deny women their bodily autonomy. The UNFPA calls upon stakeholders to help build a new set of social norms to drive this mission.

Source: The Hindu July 07, 2021 18:56 UTC