NEW DELHI, Nov 30 (AFP) - India, which accounts for 60 percent of HIV cases in Asia, is set to mark World AIDS day Wednesday, amid criticism from activists about government apathy towards the spread of the disease.

Activists on Tuesday said government efforts to stem AIDS remained woefully inadequate, after years of trying to sweep the issue under the carpet.

India admitted for the first time this month that as many as 3.5 million people nationwide were carrying the human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) that leads to AIDS.

A health ministry report which contained figures for the urban population up to mid-1998, said 1.4 million males living in urban India were HIV-positive, compared to 800,000 women.

Others, however, put the figure at around five million.

Khairati Lal Bhola, a veteran AIDS crusader in New Delhi, said government efforts to contain the disease had been "lethargic" at best.

"First they did not acknowledge the problem, now they are trying to hide the real figures."

Bhola, who set up the Forum for Uplift of Indian Prostitutes 33 years ago, said his organisation would mark World AIDS day by distributing free condoms at G.B. Road, New Delhi's biggest red-light district.

"We will distribute 180,000 condoms there and tell the girls to always have protected sex, especially with foreigners," he told AFP.

"Our organisation will distribute thousands of rubbers (condoms) in other cities also," he said. "Although there is more awareness about AIDS now, the levels of ignorance are amazing."

Bhola said there were at least 2.3 million prostitutes in India, spread over 275,000 brothels and were the highest risk group.

"The future of our country is at stake, if the government does not wake up, our coming generations will be wiped out."

Prasada Rao, additional secretary in India's health ministry, said there would be "door-to-door campaigning" in half of the country's 280 districts on Wednesday to preach safe sex.

"The workers will lecture on sexually transmitted diseases and how they may lead to AIDS. But there will be nothing AIDS-specific," he said, adding that an AIDS awareness march would be staged in the Indian capital.

Anima Banerjee, a high-profile prostitute leader in the eastern city of Calcutta, said she had launched a "positive hotline" Tuesday to provide telephone counselling on AIDS, HIV, sex and sexuality.

Speaking from Sonagachi, one of Asia's largest sex districts, Banerjee said the ignorance levels on AIDS were stupefying.

"People ask me, there is a person in our area with AIDS. Can I enter his house or will I get infected? I have sometimes sent our girls to kiss the man's cheek in public to show it is not contagious."

Sonagachi will mark Wednesday's festivities with "educational cultural programmes" and the distribution of leaflets and free condoms.

Leading Indian gay rights activist Ashok Row Kavi said the government had been mistaken in targetting mainly prostitutes in the fight against AIDS.

The Bombay-based Kavi said there were about 500,000 HIV cases in the city alone, adding : "Out of every 100 people infected, 80 are men so its really the men the government should be targetting."

Kavi said India's prurient society, which has had problems addressing many of the issues linked to AIDS, such as intravenous drug use and safe sex, had to be more open about discussing issues such as multiple sex partners and homosexuality.

India's state-run television and radio networks have aired safe sex messages but there have been no specific programmes on AIDS.

However, recently the "Red Ribbon Show" premiered on a private television channel in which well-known film stars discuss AIDS and publicly express their support for the cause.

Kavi said Indian celebrities, notably film stars, had to take a more active role in promoting AIDS awareness.

"Elizabeth Taylor recently gave me a personal cheque for the work I am doing," he said. "If she can, why can't they?"

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