Access to nutrition, menstrual hygiene and reproductive healthcare services suffered a setback as the focus of the public health system shifted to managing and containing the pandemic. According to a report, COVID-19 limited access to contraceptives for 26 million couples in India. An analysis by the Foundation for Reproductive Health Services India estimates that the lockdown is likely to have resulted in an additional 2.4 million unintended pregnancies. Another study showed that approximately 2 million women had restricted access to abortion services in 2020. Mental health also emerged as a significant concern amongst adolescents as they are anxious about their future. These changes will have a long-term impact on shaping India’s future if necessary, steps are not taken today.
Young women are particularly vulnerable to this disruption due to increase in the burden of unpaid care work at home. COVID-19 will disrupt efforts to prevent child marriage, potentially resulting in an additional 13 million child marriages taking place between 2020 and 2030 that could otherwise have been averted (UNFPA).
Investment in youth and adolescents will pave the path for their development and sustain the efforts to achieve India’s commitment towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Prioritising their needs and aspirations is the key for the overall socio, economic and demographic development. Having a large young population has both advantages and disadvantages – while harnessing their potential remains a massive challenge, it also offers a huge opportunity which needs to be leveraged. In addition to financial investments, it will also be important to invest in youth engagement and leadership. Bringing young people to the center, including them in decision making and ensuring their participation in formulating youth appropriate policies and programmes, will ensure that they are equally invested in their own wellbeing. We will not succeed without the obligation of the young investing in their self-care.
It is clear that if we make adequate investments now – be it in health, education, capacity building – we can capitalize with high dividends. A large and productive workforce will then contribute to nation-building.
About Population Foundation of India
Population Foundation of India is a national NGO, which promotes and advocates for the effective formulation and implementation of gender sensitive population, health and development strategies and policies. The organisation was founded in 1970 by a group of socially committed industrialists under the leadership of the late JRD Tata and Dr. Bharat Ram. It addresses population issues within the larger discourse of empowering women and men, so that they are able to take informed decisions related to their fertility, health and well-being. It works with the government, both at the national and state levels, and with NGOs, in the areas of community action for health, urban health, scaling up of successful pilots and social and behaviour change communication. The organisation is guided by an eminent governing board and advisory council comprising distinguished persons from civil society, the government and the private sector.
For more information on the Foundation, please visit www.populationfoundation.in.
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