The Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences Bill, 2011, which legalised consensual sex with a person at the age of 16 years, however, awards harsh punishment for offenders.
The Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences Bill, 2011, which legalised consensual sex with a person at the age of 16 years, however, awards harsh punishment for offenders.
This bill was approved as an attempt towards bringing sexual offences against children under legal purview for the first time in India. However, experts like psychologists, psychiatrists and importantly, parents, also welcome the bill as a deterrent for those who continue to exploit children, be it man or woman.
But psychiatrist Dr Nimrat Singh believes that Indian society is getting too 'bold.' She says, "One must not forget our culture, which plays a very important role in our life."
Psychiatrist Dr Hansal Bhachech says, "The government has not allowed sex education, even in this 21st century, to be taught in schools. And on the other side, they have approved this bill which allows consensual sex at 16 years of age and non-penetrative sex at 12," Dr Bhachech said.
Gynaecologist Dr Vaishali Raval is of the opinion that, 'sweet 16 years' is not a mature age for a girl to give birth to a child. "Teenage pregnancy is very risky, as there is 100 % risk of life of both baby and mother. Girls are too young at that age to understand motherhood and hence chances of premature babies are likely to happen in consensual sex at this age."
Father of a 13-year-old daughter and a gynaecologist, Dr Sunil Shah, feels the bill will be a threat to society. He said that, "Legalising age for consensual sex to 16 years would be a great threat to society. Girls are not mature enough to have sex — or deny it — at this age."
According to script writer, Swapna Waghmare Joshi, "I personally don't agree with this decision. I believe girls are not mentally prepared or matured at 16. If you compare with the west, it is a different story altogether. There sex education in schools is not a taboo. Moreover, here parents are not willing to talk and educate their children about sex."
Similarly, Nisha Shah, mother of a 14-year-old daughter, says, "I believe the move to legalise 16 years as major or adult age for consensual sex will have an adverse effect on their minds. At such an age, not only is a girl's body developing, they are also unaware or shy to indulge in protected sex. I believe adult or major age should be 20 years instead of the current 18.
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