Ranchi, Jharkhand | October | 17, 2023 :: The Advocacy and Accountability Collaborative (TAAC) Hub, Jharkhand has organised an event to promote awareness on Family Planning and Sexual Reproductive Health (FP/SRH) among young people through a workshop on “Pathways to well-being for Young People: A State Level Media Advocacy”. The focus of the workshop was to draw attention of the media towards the impact of climate change on sexual and reproductive health of young people.
Various newspapers and national surveys have reported in the recent past about the impacts of lack of awareness on SRH among youths. Data from NFHS-5 reveals that 17% of women aged 15-19 in Jharkhand have initiated childbearing, potentially linked to restricted access to Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) education and services. An investigation by the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) discloses that over 40% of women in Jharkhand report incidents of domestic violence. Climate-induced stress and resource shortages might be contributing factors to this violence, further influencing SRH.
In light of the emerging issues, a panel discussion was held focusing on the consequences of climate change, on Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) among the young People. The panel featured Ajaynand Srivastava, PM – M&E, representing JSLPS, Government of Jharkhand, Manoj Kumar, Senior Journalist and Dr. Raj Shree Verma, an Assistant Professor at XISS. The panel was moderated by Tanvi Jha, CINI Jharkhand.
Ajaynand Srivastava shared that post covid19, the Government has initiated different approaches to address any adverse situation arising out of climatic changes. But the impact of climate on SRH needs to be advocated as there is no evidence-based data. More research needs to carried out and necessary awareness at different levels is required.
Manoj Kumar shared insights on the media’s crucial role in raising awareness about the nexus between climate change and SRH among Jharkhand’s youth. He highlighted the significance of narrating real-life stories, showcasing the struggles faced by young people in the evolving environmental landscape, which fosters empathy among the audience.
Dr. Raj Shree Verma stressed the importance of collaboration between academia, local communities, and government agencies to ensure that climate adaptation and SRH interventions cater to the unique needs of Jharkhand’s youth. She recommended initiating community-based research initiatives, actively involving local stakeholders, and organizing forums to facilitate dialogue, align research with policy, and collaboratively devise effective strategies.
Additionally, the workshop also delved into the key elements of developing content writing that captures the attention of media outlets, highlighting stories and events that are particularly well-suited for publication. Rashmi Verma, Sr. Asst. Professor, Central University, Jharkhand & the students graciously facilitated the workshop session providing a handholding support to TAAC Hub CSOs on developing content for media. They emphasized on 5 Ws- What, Where, Why, Who, Whom and 1 H i.e How. These are key elements to write an effective content for the media.
The event was a beginning in the right direction since there is lack of awareness regarding the impact of climate on SRH and necessary evidence needs to be generated. All key stakeholders promised to take this forward by raising these issues in different platforms.
