The officials in 6 states in India have banned sex education because the subject offends Indian sensibilities and puts young lives at risk and jeapordizes their fight against HIV/AIDS.

The 6 states that refuse to take part in the sex ed classes also have the highest number of people living with the disease. According to the United Nations there are 5.7 million people suffering from HIV in India alone. Despite these startling numbers, sex is considered taboo and isn't spoken of.. even to educate the young.

I know that the subject of sex education is a sticking point for many. It's something that isn't comfortable to talk about whether you're a parent or educator, but in this case ignorance isn't bliss. Having unprotected sex results in unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.

“There will be a huge negative impact if you don’t provide sex education, given the vulnerability of young people to the virus,” “Are you more concerned about culture than the lives of young people?” said National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) chief Sujatha Rao

The states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Karnataka have refused to or stopped their sex education classes altogether. The Hindu government is planning on teaching yoga instead.

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