Maharashtra puts sex education on hold

According to the Government’s decision, announced by Education Minister Vasant Purkhe in the Assembly on Tuesday, sex education was to be compulsory in schools from class IX.

But the announcement triggered a furore in the Assembly on Wednesday, with MLAs saying the move was a Western conspiracy to corrupt local culture. With members from the Shiv Sena, BJP and NCP coming together to oppose the decision, Speaker Babasaheb Kupekar asked the Government not to implement it until it consulted educationists, social activists, MLAs who had studied the issue.

Raising the issue in the House, NCP’s Nawab Malik said Purkhe had made the announcement suo moto when there was no demand for it. He said the move would lead to “Love Gurus and Sex Gurus” being appointed. Mangalprabhat Lodha (BJP), who later moved an adjournment motion on the issue, said Purkhe’s announcement in the upper house without informing the lower house was an insult to the latter. “The issue is against all religions,” Lodha said, adding that he did not want children to be corrupted and religion and culture violated.