Delhi-based NGO TARSHI completes 25 years of advocating for people’s rights to sexual wellbeing and creating the resources to make this possible
On February 14, 1996, when Valentine’s Day was still about love (as opposed to coupon deals for takeaway food in 2021), a group of people came together, hoping to elevate the quality of conversations around sexuality — so far whispered, incomplete and uncomfortable. It all began with a phone helpline.
“We launched a helpline focussing on sexuality and reproductive health, offering free information, counselling, and referrals by trained counsellors. It guaranteed anonymity and confidentiality, two aspects that were and are very important to people when they discuss sexuality,” says Radhika Chandiramani, founder of the helpline she named TARSHI: Talking About Reproductive and Sexual Health Issues.
Twenty-five years on, the TARSHI helpline has evolved into an NGO in Delhi that has consistently been creating reliable safe spaces…