Indian President Draupadi Murmu presents the research monograph of the parliamentary group IAPPD

New Delhi: The Indian Association of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (IAPPD) presented two research publications to the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, at Rashtrapati Bhavan by Prof. PJ Kurien, Chairman, IAPPD and former Vice Chairman, Rajya Sabha, and the lead authors of the research monographs, Dr. Deepak Gupta, Prof. JS Yadav, Dr. Sudesh Nangia and Manmohan Sharma of IAPPD.

The President appreciated the research analysis presented by IAPPD which will go a long way in further strengthening the health and development sectors of the country, especially in the ongoing ‘Amrit-Kaal’ campaign. She stressed on the urgent need to ensure that ‘values-based education’ is incorporated into the education system where not only gender equality issues are ingrained but even major key behaviors to save lives are embedded in the minds of young people.

The monograph titled Social and Behavioural Change: India in Action concludes that dialogue with individuals and active participation of individuals are important factors in communicating behavioural and social change. In his speech, Dr Deepak Gupta said, “To change behaviour at scale, harmful cultural values, social norms and structural inequalities – known as major risk factors – must be considered. Effective communication strategies must understand and adapt to the policy and legislative environment and be linked to service delivery to ensure that services reach vulnerable, hard-to-reach and socially excluded groups.”

The publication, Gender Equality, Equity and Women Empowerment in India – Current Situation, Challenges and Opportunities, authored by Professor Sudesh Nangia, concluded that there is a paradoxical situation in India where women are given the status of deities and are therefore worshipped, but at the same time, are subjected to various forms of abuse, discrimination and inequality.