New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu was presented two research publications of the Indian Association of Parliamentarians for Population & Development (IAPPD) at Rashtrapati Bhawan on Wednesday.
IAPPD Chairman and former Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Prof. PJ Kurien, along with lead authors Dr Deepak Gupta and Prof. JS Yadav, and Dr Sudesh Nangia and Manmohan Sharma, handed over the monographs to the President.
President Murmu appreciated IAPPD’s efforts in bringing forth the research analysis which will go go a long way in strengthening the health and development sector in the country, especially in ‘Amrit Kaal’.
She underlined the need for ensuring inclusion of ‘Value Based Education’ into the system wherein not only gender equality issues are well ingrained, even the primary key life-saving critical behaviours are imbibed in young minds.
The monograph, titled ‘Social and Behaviour Change – SBC for SRHR, including FP: India on the Move’ has concluded that dialogue with and active participation of individuals is an essential element in communication for behaviour and social change.
“For behaviours to change on a large scale, harmful cultural values, societal norms and structural inequalities – dubbed as primary risk-factors – have to be taken into consideration. Effective communication strategies have to be cognizant of and in tune with the policy and legislative environment and linked to the service delivery aspects which must ensure reaching the vulnerable, hard-to-reach and socially-excluded communities,” opined Dr Gupta.
The publication titled ‘Gender Equality, Equity and Women Empowerment in India – Status, Challenges & Opportunities’ by Prof. Nangia concluded that a paradoxical scenario exists in India wherein women have been accorded the position of deity and thus worshipped, yet at the same time, subjected to various forms of maltreatment, discrimination and inequalities.
Expressed his gratitude to the President, Prof. Kurien said that her encouragement will further motivate IAPPD and the parliamentarians’ organisation will strengthen its efforts to engage with the elected leaders.
