Indian city of Mumbai hit by condom thefts
Dr. Avnish Jolly
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8441024.stm
By Prachi Pinglay
BBC News, Mumbai
Activists fear the thefts could adversely affect sexual health
Petty criminals who break into condom vending machines are causing
concern among Aids and HIV-prevention activists in the Indian city of
Mumbai.
Over 3,000 condom vending machines have been installed in the city as
a part of an HIV Aids prevention programme.
However, more than 500 of the machines have been damaged by petty
criminals who break into them for fun, for small change or for free
condoms.
During the Hindu Diwali festival some were even damaged by fire
crackers.
Rajesh Nainakwal from the Hindustan Latex Family Planning Promotion
Trusts (HLFPPT) - which provides the vending machines in conjunction
with non governmental organisations - said there could be several
reasons for these thefts.
'Stigma'
"These machines are installed in areas where high risk people like
truck drivers are likely to visit. Often these places also have drug
addicts or petty thieves.
"A machine never contains more than 100 rupees ($2) but they may break
it open to sell the parts and buy drugs.
"Some may want condoms for free. Some may be against the idea of
installing such machines. It still carries a stigma."
The damage to these machines is more than financial.
"When a machine is damaged then you have to factor how many people
would go without a condom. One of the guidelines is that a person
should be able to procure one within 15 minutes. It is not easy to get
people to use to condoms and take them from these machines."
The Indian state of Maharashtra - of which Mumbai (Bombay) is capital
- has one of the highest numbers of HIV infected people.
Activists have now employed a security guard to prevent thefts from
happening in future.
More than 100 formal complaints have been made at various police
stations about the destruction of these machines.