He told us, "Social evils such as sexual abuse, incest, rape & molestation, eve-teasing, sexual harassment at the work place, transmission of HIV and other STDs, teenage pregnancies etc, are all the result of the lack of value-based sex education in the growing years of a child.

Views towards both genders are created during the early years, and the man-woman attitude as an adult is formed during this time. Sex education programs can help bridge the divide between the genders, which will lead to mutually respectful interpersonal relations between both the sexes at home and at work."

According to him, while sex education is essential, it is equally important that it be imparted by the right kind of people, in the right way, at the right time, and keeping in mind the culture of India. If not, it can do more harm than good in the long run.

In the photograph: Dr. Rajan Bhonsle