In the run-up to the Commonwealth Games (CWG), the Delhi AIDS Control Society has planned to install 150 condom vending machines at various public places. While some machines will be in the Games’s Village and inside the stadiums, there will be machines installed at malls, markets, hotels and even paan shops.
“We are ready with the machines and now waiting for the approval from the CWG authorities, hotels and malls across Delhi to install them,” says an official from the National Aids Control Organisation.
HT City asked hotels and malls about their reaction. Many chose to remain quiet, but a few welcomed the idea. “We are comfortable with such an implementation, but we need to figure out a certain way so that it gels well with the aesthetics of our hotel,” says Javed Ali, VP and General Manager, Radisson Hotel, Delhi.
“We can place these machines in the washrooms,” says a spokesperson from the Select Citywalk mall. Paanwallas in the city will be asked to stock condom packets, too. These will cost Rs 3 apiece. “If it becomes a rule, then we have to keep condoms in our shop. Also, it’s a good way to control population. So why not?” says Sunil Jain, who runs a paan shop in Connaught Place.
Government is considering Common Wealth Games as a huge platform to spread the awareness about HIV AIDS and therefore it has decided to set up several condom vending machines at the Commonwealth Games village and in all stadia.
In support to the government, the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) is also lending their hands in creating awareness for HIV AIDS by distributing free condoms to the players and other support staff.
It is expected that centre will deploy 200 vending machines and one just need a coin of Rs 5 to dispense a single condom. During the games, it is estimated that around one lakh condom will be dispensed.
NACO Director-General K. Chandramouli mentioned that centre will be setting these condom vending machines at offices and hotels associated with the Games.
He also said that discussions are going around with Delhi government and civic authorities to employ manpower in installing condom vending machines.
People can either buy the condoms from these machines or can avail them free from selected venues but interestingly NACO, believed that rather taking condom free of cost, people will like to buy them.
Chandramouli said that usually when people spend some money to purchase something they will use the object for the right purpose, but when they get something free, they either throw the object or fear to use it because of poor quality issues and hence they passed the statement that people will rather buy the condoms instead of taking free condom samples.