![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Rubber-penis-754x424-Copy-696x392.jpg\" "\\"Rubber-penis-754x424")
<\/div>\nA rubber penis in family planning kits used by local health workers has led to a controversy in the western Indian state of Maharashtra.<\/p>\n
Opposition lawmakers say the rubber models will embarrass female health workers who use the kits to spread awareness on reproductive health.<\/p>\n
But some workers say they have used similar models earlier without problems.<\/p>\n
The kit also includes a rubber uterus, which hasn\u2019t sparked any reactions.<\/p>\n
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The kits have been given to Ashas \u2013 short for Accredited Social Health Activists \u2013 who are a crucial part of India\u2019s primary and community health programmes.<\/p>\n
They perform a range of duties, including going from door to door to educate people about reproductive health and the use of contraceptives. This usually requires a lot of sensitivity, as sex is a taboo topic in many parts of India.<\/p>\n
Dr Archana Patil, director of Maharashtra\u2019s public health department, told BBC Marathi that around 25,000 kits that include the penis model had been distributed to health workers and rural health centres across the state.<\/p>\n
She added that the model has received negative feedback from only one district, Buldhana.<\/p>\n BBC Marathi asked around seven Asha workers from Buldhana if they felt embarrassed about carrying the models of the penis and uterus.<\/p>\n Two of them refused to comment. Two said it would be a little embarrassing to display the models in rural areas \u2013 where people were already hesitant to talk about sexual health \u2013 but said it was a part of their jobs.<\/p>\n The remaining three workers said they had no problems using the model to explain concepts if needed. None of them wanted their names to be published.<\/p>\n Dr Patil said no one was being forced to use the models.<\/p>\n \u201cIf health workers feel awkward about speaking openly about these issues, how will work get done?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n Some politicians \u2013 mainly from India\u2019s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is in the opposition in the state \u2013 disagree.<\/p>\n Akash Phundkar, a BJP lawmaker from Buldhana, has demanded that the government take back these kits and apologise to the health workers.<\/p>\n Chitra Wagh, the party\u2019s vice-president in the state, alleged that the government was promoting \u201csexual indulgence\u201d.<\/p>\n Representatives of the Shiv Sena party, which is part of a coalition that governs Maharashtra, haven\u2019t commented yet.<\/p>\n An Asha worker from Pune \u2013 who also didn\u2019t want her name to be published \u2013 told BBC Marathi that they had used these models earlier as well to demonstrate aspects of family planning.<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t give this kit to people. We just use it to counsel people about family planning. We were told about the models during our training,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Dr Sagar Mundada, a sexologist, said using these models was important in rural areas where illiteracy rates were higher.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is not right to say that this will spread misconceptions. If we speak openly, people can understand issues better. If there is no discussion about sexual issues, that will actually lead to misconceptions,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"Rubber](\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/The-rubber-penises-are-part-of-a-kit-used-by-health-workers.jpg\" "\\"Rubber")