Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1997. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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United Press International; Thursday, October 16, 1997 - 5:20 AM EDT
Harbaksh Singh Nanda
The map of India in health minister's office is made of colored condoms, government officials will have to keep a bowl of condoms on their table, and restaurants will be asked to give complimentary contraceptives to the patrons.
And the World AIDS Day this year may be celebrated with enormous colorful condom balloons sent into the air.
The health ministry plans to launch condom vending machines into India's orthodox society to check the growth of 20 million people each year in this country of 970 million.
The ministry has also asked the London Rubber Company to produce condoms for India's elite class.
The Hindustan Times newspaper says Indian Health Minister Renuka Chaudhary is following the example of Thailand's condom king, Michai Verawaty, and demystifying the rubber.
Health officials will distribute free condoms to the music lovers at a Channel V music concert on Saturday, and the Indian government, which distributes 70 per cent of condoms, has launched programs to educate the rural population on how to use the contraceptive.
The sudden increase in the status of the condom stems not only from its importance in population control but its vital role in preventing AIDS.
While free condoms are being phased out, condom marketing is picking up. Last year, 260 million condoms were sold, compared with 160 million in 1995.
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