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Metropolis Healthcare, the pathology laboratory chain, hosted the second edition of the Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health (ARSH) Conclave in Mumbai. As part of its flagship CSR initiative ‘Too Shy to Ask’ (TSTA).
The conclave marked a shift from awareness to action, with adolescent girls emerging not just as participants, but as leaders within their communities. Bringing together over 100 participants, including adolescent leaders, NGO partners, Panchayat representatives, and healthcare experts, the platform highlighted how adolescents are increasingly taking initiative and engaging with local systems.
Over the past three years, the ARSH programme has reached more than 3.25 lakh adolescents, with 1.29 lakh impacted in FY 2025–26 alone. The programme is currently implemented across 1,017 villages, 371 Panchayats, 17 blocks, and 6 districts in Maharashtra and Uttarakhand, reflecting both expansion and deeper engagement in existing geographies.
A cornerstone of the initiative is the Kishori Manch, adolescent-led groups that provide safe spaces for learning, dialogue, and leadership. Today, over 15,000 Kishori Manch groups are actively driving community-level engagement, with more than 13,500 action plans implemented across key areas such as child marriage prevention, menstrual hygiene, education, and access to healthcare.
Ameera Shah Promoter and executive chairperson, Metropolis Healthcare Limited said: “What we are witnessing today is far more than program impact—it is the emergence of a youth-led movement. When adolescents are given the right knowledge, platforms, and trust, they begin to influence not just their own futures, but the systems around them. We believe sustainable change happens when communities lead it themselves, and these young girls are demonstrating exactly that.”
Dr. Duru Shah, Chairperson, Metropolis CSR and the driving force behind the TSTA and ARSH programs, said: “Adolescent well-being must move beyond awareness into agency. Through ARSH, we are seeing girls question norms, engage with local governance, and take informed decisions about their health and rights. They are not waiting for change, they are leading it. This is the foundation of a healthier, more equitable society.”
The Too Shy to Ask initiative is a comprehensive adolescent outreach program designed to educate, empower, and support young girls through a dual approach of physical and digital outreach. The physical component, implemented under the ARSH initiative, addresses critical gaps in reproductive and sexual health education through on-ground engagement.
The program is implemented in collaboration with NGO partners including Digantar Swaraj Foundation, Child Help Foundation, BharatCares, SHARP, Aastha Parivaar, Manthan Foundation, and Learning Forward India Foundation, ensuring strong grassroots execution and sustained community engagement.
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