What is significant in this move is that the manual launched by the Ministry welcomes homosexuality and states that it is okay for boys to cry, a girl says ‘no’ it means no, contraception and gender-based violence.

The manual states that it is okay to “feel attracted” towards people of opposite or same sex. It is consent and respect that a relationship requires, according to a report in the Indian Express.

Here’s an excerpt from the manual (in Hindi) that will be circulated to the states as part of the plan.

“Adolescents frequently fall in love. They can feel attraction for a friend or any individual of the same or opposite sex. It is normal to have special feelings for someone. It is important for adolescents to understand that such relationships are based on mutual consent, trust, transparency and respect. It is alright to talk about such feelings to the person for whom you have them but always in a respectful manner… Boys should understand that when a girl says ‘no’ it means no.”

The manual aims to address the health and development issues of over 253 million adolescents. While unveiling the app as apart of the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) program, C K Mishra, Secretary, Health and Family Welfare said that over 1.6 lakh peer educators are being trained across the country in a phased manner, ensuring optimum use of the resource kit so that they can be a good ‘saathiya’ for the adolescents.

Indian Express also reports that the manual also addresses issues like smoking, addiction etc. On the topic if reproductive health, it states how masturbation is important for safe sex and explains contraception. 

Read the full Indian Express report here.