School is a place where we learn, grow and are supposed to feel safe, but what if the same place becomes the source of your insecurity?.

 In 7th grade, I faced a storm of shame that changed how I saw myself. 'Slut,' a word I barely comprehended the meaning of, was called at me by a classmate. When I complained about it to my teacher, she turned against me and started blaming me, which made me more vulnerable to open up about how I felt.

Unsolicited advice on what to apply on my skin, to shave my body hair and how important it is to cover those breasts with multiple layers of clothes, otherwise I won’t be likeable. Not just my peers, even my teachers weighed in, unknowingly planting seeds of insecurity. These words coming from them, it just held so much power in my mind that I started feeling that I’m not enough and it is my fault if someone shames me. 

 Gratefully as I gathered more knowledge, I was able to break out of that trap but it came the hard way around as it was difficult to unlearn all the conditioning that had been instilled in me. I don't want young minds to tread the same path of self doubt like I did. I want us to be the generation that breaks the cycle of body shaming and empowers our children to embrace their uniqueness with pride.

I urge Delhi Government to include Body Positivity as a mandatory subject in government schools for the students of class 5th to 10th as it’s normal for children and teenagers to compare themselves to others, especially as children grow into adolescent age their bodies start to change. 

Let us stand together and sign this petition, for every child who deserves to grow up in a world where their worth is not defined by their appearance. Together, we can create an inclusive and uplifting environment, fostering a future where every body is celebrated as beautiful, and no child ever feels the pain of body shaming. Sign now and be a part of this transformative movement #BodyPositiveEd  #RaiseBodyPositiveKids  #SelfLoveInSchool.