The burden of family planning is on women: Poonam Muttreja

In a wide-ranging interview, a speaker highlighted the deep-seated 'culture of silence' surrounding sex and reproductive health in India. The core message of the discussion was encapsulated in the quote, 'Desh Badlega Jab Mard Badlega,' emphasising the need to change men's mindsets to achieve gender equality. The interview revealed that less than 1% of Indian men opt for vasectomy, partly due to a myth that it causes sexual weakness and a social fear of being cuckolded if their wife gets pregnant. This is contrasted with female sterilization, which accounts for 67% of family planning methods. The speaker detailed efforts to normalize conversations around sexuality through the TV serial 'Mein Kuch Bhee Kar Sakti Hoon' and the challenges of introducing sex education in schools. The importance of parental leave and redefining masculinity were also discussed as key policy and societal changes needed.