By Neha Sethi, Nazia Jaffri and Kinley Tshering
The news of the variety of problems that plagues India’s millennium city, Gurgaon, has become almost a cliché now. But the problems still persist, and so does the complaints from various quarters.
Even as a horde of environmental issues like the depletion of ground water, increasing air pollution, lack of proper solid waste disposal and sewer system among others have done its rounds, 58 more sectors are being developed in addition to the already existing 57 sectors in Gurgaon according to the Master Plan 2021.
Several architects and urban planners have pointed that a lack of proper planning and implementation has led to the various issues plaguing Gurgaon. According to S.P Biswas, an assistant professor at Sushant School of Architecture in Gurgaon, who has conducted studies and researches on the development of Gurgaon city, the development area is eight times more than the actual area. “There is no proper infrastructure, solid waste disposal and sewer system. The natural and topographical terrain has been destroyed in piece meal,” he says.
In the early 1960s Gurgaon was considered unfit for development for want of ground water source and only a modest growth was proposed under Delhi Master Plan-1962. Predictably, after the Gurgaon boom, the water level has been reported to be declining.
According to figures compiled by the Centre for Science and Environment, the water level in the city was 42.95 m below ground level (bgl) that reached 50.67 bgl in 2006. In the intervening years, the water level has declined by 7.72 m.
Balwan Singh, a resident of Sukhinder village in Gurgaon, says that in the late 80s and early 90s the bore well had to be dug only till 50-60 ft but now it has crossed more than 500 ft below ground level.
But, officials at the Haryana Urban Development Authority deny that water table in Gurgaon has been depleting over the years. “As far as I know, the water has not gone down. It is a misconception spread by the media,” says a superintend engineer of HUDA on conditions of anonymity. “Gurgaon has a water supply of 40 million gallons a day (mgd) from the open canal system. The total under ground water demand is only 7-8 mgd, 10-15% of the total water requirement of the town.”
However, the ground situation tells another story.
BY Neha Sethi, Nazia Jaffri and Kinley Tshering
In the alleys of the adjacent villages of Gurgaon, teeming numbers of migrant workers from across different States live in tiny, dingy rooms, that can barely fit in three people at a time. They pay rents that are humungous compared to the little space they are given.
Meena, 35, a migrant worker from Bihar, lives in a small room at
“In addition, I pay another Rs. 300 as electricity bill every month. But during summers, the electricity bill goes up to Rs. 400,” Meena says.
This rent may look nominal, but it is atrocious if the space that is provided is taken into consideration. The space of the room is a little bigger than the size of a jhuggi. And for these people who have to manage with a minimal salary, every penny counts. Shelling out so much money on the rent means that they have less to save and send back home.
The development of Gurgaon has led to an upswing in the demand for domestic helps. While this has positive result of increased employment for many migrants, the expensive rents eat away a major chunk of their salary.
“Although we have jobs here, we have to pay almost more than a half of our salary for the rents,” says Maya, who works as a maid. “My husband and daughter, all of us work. Otherwise it would be hard to survive.”
The major beneficiaries however are the people who had been living in Gurgaon villages even before the new Gurgaon came up. Most of them have now built small rooms on the properties that they own and given them on rent to migrant labourers mostly from Bihar and
“In most of the villages, the migrant population is a lot more than the people who used to live in the village traditionally,” says Ravinder Kumar, a resident of Sikanderpur village in Gurgaon.
Many of the traditional residents of villages have even built as many as 300 rooms of these kinds to rent out. “Our landlord takes around Rs. 2,000 from every tenant. So he has a monthly income of around Rs. 600,000 just from the rent that he collects from us,” says Meena.
A landlord, who didn’t want to be named, defended, “Why shouldn’t we take rent from them. This is our business. And moreover, these people also earn a lot from the people living in the costly condominiums in Gurgaon.”
A resident of a condominium justifies his point. She says, “We need someone to help us with the housework. I pay my maid around Rs. 2000 just for sweeping the house and cleaning the dishes every month. And she also works in three more houses apart from mine.”
So do the labourers mind shelling out this money? Tell them to move to
By
Kinley, Nazia, Neha
Photo: Neha
Gurgaon might lack many basic civic amenities. So, how do the residents cope? Even those who have bought flats in the posh area of the city have their grievances, but a much toned-down one.
Living in a flat worth more than a fortune and having to pay extra for the parking and other basic amenities would be asking for a little too much. But the rich residents in Gurgaon would rather pay than harp.
Buying a condominium in Gurgaon can cost around a crore and sometimes the price even reaches a staggering rupees five crores. After investing so much, it is only natural to expect decent facilities like a copious park, good roads and non-stop supply of electricity and water as a part of the package. But this is a far cry from reality.
Vidhu Singh, a resident of Central Park, one of the elite condominium’s societies of Gurgaon, says, “We pay for own our maintenance charges like parking charges and the cost of diesel for running the generators. These generators supply complete power backup for our society.”
Many of the condominium societies have also hired facility managing companies to take care of the maintenance.
The estate manager of one of the facility management company who didn’t want to be named said, “The role of the government is to provide the basic infrastructure before housing colonies are setup. Since the government did not plan ahead, so now the residents are having problems.”
He further added that is where companies like his could play a role and make sure that people do not face problems. “People living in condominiums generally do not mind paying. So we offer them with services that they pay for,” he said.
These estate management companies generally offer security, power backup, proper upkeep of lawns in the common area, parking, and manage facilities like clubs and gyms, which have been built by the builder. But all these do not come cheap.
Vrinda Mehta, a resident of a condominium says, “We pay Re 1.75 a month for every square meter that we own. My maintenance bill comes to around Rs 6,000 a month since I live in a 2,500 square feet house and sometimes cost of diesel is to be paid separately.”
But not everyone seems to be complaining. Singh says she doesn’t mind paying these maintenance charges as she knows that her money is not being wasted. “I don’t think this price is too much for our safety and security. I feel safe knowing that there is a guard who will not let any stranger enter my building. And my car is also safe in the parking since I am paying for it.”
Old Delhi seems a little incomplete without the shouts of tongawallahs. With the government’s plan to put them off the road, how difficult would their future ride be.
Nazia Jafri, Neha Sethi and Kapou Malakar have the story.
By Neha Sethi, Nazia Jafri and Kinley Tshering
According to the National Family Health Survey conducted in 2005-06, about 33.1 percent of
Doctor Atul Shardhana, a consultant pediatric surgeon at Kolmet hospital in
While obesity is caused due to improper diet, malnutrition is mainly caused due to insufficient food consumption. But both these diseases are ironically clubbed under the same group-malnourishment.
What many ignore is the eating habits. While the poor section do not have enough to eat, it seems the wealthier have not been eating well either.
The repercussions of obesity and malnutrition are grave on the public health as both the diseases are known to be life threatening. Obesity leads to secondary problems which are now called metabolic syndrome that includes type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular risks and cerebral risks to name a few.
While many attribute this parallel of under nutrition and obesity to
“One of the most important reasons for this is the inequality of income which exists in
Struck in this ironical situation, which disease should be given more priority as it concerns the health of two different section of the Indian population?
In fact,
like a cheaper option. It has the added advantage of being environment
friendly too. But, recent accidents which were caused due to gas
leak pose one question. How safe is CNG? Nazia Jafri, Neha Sethi and Sheeba Naaz try to
clear the air around CNG issues.
By: Nazia Jafri, Neha Sethi and Sheeba Naaz
Mohammad Salamuddin, a taxi driver who drives an Omni car, which runs on CNG says he is saving a lot of money on fuel now। “CNG is a lot better than petrol। It costs me around Rs 200 to drive around Delhi from morning till evening,” he says.
But talk to him about the latest Wagon R accident where the car, which was fitted with CNG, went up in flames and he has his own explanation. “The car went up in flames because of impact of collision, and not because of CNG. And moreover, I got the CNG kit fitted from the company itself, so it’s safe.”
Salamuddin is one of the few who know that it is important to get a CNG kit fitted in car from an authorised centre. Manjot Singh, a technician with Texla Gas Engineers, an authorised centre in Guru Nanak Nagar says most of the people running their cars on CNG face a problem because they don’t get their kits fitted from authorised centres approved by the government. “The government has around 110 authorised centres in Delhi, which have their special RFC codes. The customers should go only to these centres to get their kits fitted.” he adds.
Seeing the recent rush for CNG in cars, many companies like Hyundai have started having pre-fitted CNG kits in some of their models. Dr S K Sharma, Executive Director, Deep Hyundai, Mangolpuri, says, “We have an option of CNG in our Santro and Accent cars. It costs around Rs 60,000 more to buy a car fitted with CNG. But even if a customer is getting CNG kit fitted after buying the car from the showroom, they should make sure that the centre gives you a cash memo. You can then attach the cash memo to your car’s RC and send it to the Transport Authority. Then, a new RC is made, which makes your CNG usage legal.”
Then there are other companies like Maruti Suzuki who have come out with dual mechanism cars, which can run on petrol as well as LPG. V B Mittal, General Manager, Marketing Times, Maruti Suzuki says, “LPG is safer than CNG. The LPG cars that we sell have sensors. As soon as the sensor feels that the car is headed for a collision, the LPG connection is automatically cut off from the car to prevent any untoward incident.”
But the technicians say that LPG and CNG leak may not be the only problem because of which cars catch fire. “The other wire connections of the car might also be responsible for electrical shot circuits. If the wiring of the stereo system is loose or not proper, then it can also be dangerous.” says Manjot.
The Brahmpuri acid attacks now have a face. The sketch of the attacker has been released recently by Delhi Police. Neha Sethi, Nazia Jafri and Sumiran Preet Kaur trace the story.
Ramlila for GenX
By Neha Sethi and Babu
Think of Ramlila and you can picture a Sita clad in a nine-yard long orange saree with her head covered. But talk to present generation and they will tell you how they have seen Sita. “Sita wears cut-sleeved blouses and she wears jewellery like Aishwarya Rai wore in Jodha Akbar,” says Harshita Agarwal, a nine-year old.
Ramlila, which was a part of tradition in earlier days, is losing its importance as a means of recreation. Computers, television and video games have taken over. “In our days, we used to wait the whole year for Ramlila. It was one of the few means, apart from radio, that we had for recreation,” says Kanta Malhotra, now a grandmother of two.
But there are still some homes in
The Chairman of this Ramlila Committee in Patel Nagar, Jitender Bhardwaj says, “This Ramlila is as important for me as it is for the kids in this area. I still get excited during those days as I used to when I was a child. It is important for the kids to learn about their culture. And they are able to do it in an exciting manner through this Ramlila.”
The kids, who have grown up seeing Ramlila are also excited about taking part in it. Pratyaksh and Praman, who are six-year old twins, can always be seen behind the stage to catch more of the back stage action. “This time we both are playing the role of monkeys in Hanuman’s army,” they both say in chorus.
Though Ramlila portrays the story from the holy book of the Hindus, it has never been restricted only to Hindus. People from other religions await it as much. Salim Khan, a 50-year old, who lives in Okhla Vihar says he has been seeing Ramlila ever since he shifted to this area. “Ramlila is an event that I await throughout the year. I have been seeing it since I was in tenth standard. I love to go and sit on the rickety seats and eat peanuts while watching Ramlila,” he says.
For Ritika Bajaj, a teacher with a primary school, this year was the first time when she watched Ramlila. While the joy clearly reflects on her face, she realises the many years she has already missed. “I think that I have missed out on something in life. After seeing it, I feel I would have enjoyed it more if my parents had got me here when I was a child,” she says with a promise that she would ensure that her own kids would not miss this gala cultural event.
By Kumar Anand and Neha Sethi
Photo: Jaishree
Ruchi Sreedhar, a student of Deen Dayal Upadhyay College has been told to cut down her frequent visits to malls by her mother. After the bomb blasts in Delhi, Vandana, Ruchi’s mother, doesn’t think malls are a safe place. “I am not satisfied by the checking in malls. The malls are as unsafe as open markets.”
Many of the malls don’t have even basic metal detectors, leave aside thorough checking. Megha Chaudhary, a PR professional says, “I recently went to Lifestyle and there was no checking there. Not even a frisk through the bags.”
Rajkumar Singh, Assistant Store Manager, Van Heusen, The Great India Place mall says there are many entry points in the mall, thus making it difficult for security checks. “There are special entry points for staff, and no one checks at those entry points. Also many security people don’t check properly so it is very easy to take anything inside the mall,” he adds.
The police have sent out advisories to malls and multiplexes, to take firm precautions against any possibility of terror strikes. But the lax attitude of authorities makes them vulnerable.
Mithilesh Jha, a security guard at Westgate Mall, Rajouri Garden, has a different opinion and says that the security is very tight. “We observe each and every person entering the mall. We check their belts, shoes, pockets, wallets and mobiles.”
The authorities make tall claims, but our photographer Jaishree had a different experience. “When I could take a knife in my bag and enter the Pacific Mall in East Delhi without being detected, then how can I trust the authorities when they say they are strict?,” she asks.
The security in markets and other places increases only after a blast has taken place. An increase in security in the Lajpat Nagar market was observed only after the blasts took place in the market last year.
Sowmya Padmanabhan, a resident of Karol Bagh says, “After the blasts in Lajpat Nagar last year, the security in Karol Bagh market was increased only for eyewash. But after the blasts here this year, the security has become really tight.”
Do we really have to wait for a bomb to go off in a mall before the security position is strengthened?
Eid Shopping at Batla House
Photos:Babu
Text: Neha
Eid is a good excuse to buy bangles
Eid also means new crockery for the kitchen.
But for some Eid is all about selling rather than buying
New faces at the market
But, nothing can stop the festivitiesAuto Woes
Think about Delhi autos and overcharging and misbehaviour may be the first things that come to your mind. But talk to the autowallahs and they have a different story. So, can there be a smooth ride? Neha Sethi and Nazia Jafri reports
Security Beefed up at Metro Stations
By Neha Sethi
The Book Fair has come to an end and the Trade Fair is still some time away. Then why is the queue at the Pragati Maidan metro station extending almost till the main road? “After the blasts and the firing incident in Delhi, security has been beefed up in all the metro stations,” says P D Minz, a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) employee at Rajendra Place metro station.
The number of CISF personnel deployed at all the metro stations has gone up. “We cannot disclose the exact number of CISF deployed by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) but we have surely increased the number,” says Anuj Dayal, Chief Public Relations Officer at DMRC.
“The patrolling by CISF has gone up on all routes of the metro. The CISF, apart from being responsible for checking on metro stations, also keep traveling on the metro on all the routes and check for miscreants. They also keep checking various corners on metro stations regularly,” says Rajendra Prasad, Customer Care operator at Pragati Maidan metro station.
Since dustbins were used by terrorists for recent bomb blasts, the Managing Director of DMRC, Dr E Sreedharan, has ordered the removal of all the dustbins from the platform areas at all stations as a precautionary measure. “As it is, food and drinks are not allowed inside the metro premises, so we don’t need dustbins,” clarifies Dayal. But an officer at a metro station who didn’t want to be named said that the DMRC is planning to have transparent dustbins at all metro stations.
The security has been increased not only in the metro stations but also in areas around the stations. Rickshaws, which can be seen outside the entrance of all metro stations, have also been told to park a little away from the gate of the stations. Surender, a rickshaw puller outside Patel Nagar metro station says, “Now we can’t stand just outside the gate. If we stand there, then the CISF personnel come and shoo us away. We have to park a little ahead.”
CISF deployed at metro stations also have their own Bomb Disposal Squad and Dog Squad spread over the metro system. “We also have Closed Circuit T elevisions (CCTVs) to monitor movement of people at metro stations. And the new trains that we are procuring will also have CCTV installed inside them,” says Dayal.
Though the DMRC is taking many steps to make sure that the people are safe, not everyone is convinced. Sheena Ahuja, a student of Madhubala College, who travels everyday by the metro says, “The checking is just an eye wash. They just frisk your bag. There is no thorough search of my bag done, ever. I don’t think they are strict enough with the checking.”
It seems that it takes more than long queues and promises to convince people.
By Kinga Dema and Neha Sethi
Photo:Babu
You think someone wearing a full-sleeved shirt in this humid weather is bonkers? It might not be the latest fad but it is certainly a preventive measure. It is what the doctors are advising if you want to stay away from dengue. Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and other concerned agencies claim that preventive measures have been taken to fight dengue. But since the outbreak of dengue fever since this June, the cases are still increasing.
V K Monga, Chairman, Health Committee, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) says, “Till yesterday, 208 cases have been reported from Delhi for the year 2008.” He said the total number of cases reported last year was 548. He also added that the total number of cases is expected to be more than those of last year.
“The increase in the number of cases can be attributed to early monsoon and increase in the volume of monsoons this year. There is more humidity and also the temperature has not been very high this year,” he said.
While the agencies are busy bracing the outbreak with various measures, there seems to be a blockade on the way with the workers for the Domestic Breeding Catchers (DBC) going on strike.
This is being cited as another reason for a surge in dengue cases, points out Monga. “This problem will be solved shortly. They are demanding a regular government job, which is not possible. They are hired on a contractual basis. They are taking advantage of the situation because they know that this is the peak season for them.”
Monga claims that the MCD is ready to deal with the dengue cases. “I have visited one or two hospitals and seen the provisions. The supply of platelets and medicines is enough. There will not be any problem.”
Dr R N Singh, Chief Medical Officer, Malaria, New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) claims that special beds have been earmarked for dengue patients in hospitals like AIIMS, Safdarjung, RML, Lady Harding and other hospitals which come under NDMC supervision.
So how harmful is dengue for you? Dengue is a viral disease which is transmitted to humans by the bite of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. The severe form of dengue is called dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). It can lead to a more critical stage called the dengue shock syndrome. It could result in death if not managed in time.
Dr Prena Chhetri, a resident doctor at Indraprasthra Apollo Hospital, says, “Unlike the nocturnal malaria-transmitting mosquito, the dengue mosquito bites during the day and breeds in clean water.” It also bites several times at a stretch without rest, which means ‘a single mosquito carrying the dengue virus could infect more people in a shorter time’.
But the good news is that Dr Chhetri says it is not difficult to keep yourself safe. “The safest option is to wear full-sleeved clothes and make sure that no stagnant water is there near your surroundings. The dengue scare is bigger than the actual diseases every year so don’t be paranoid, just take precautions.”
So this season, do your best to be free from the grip of dengue!
LOSING WEIGHT THE WRONG WAY
By
Neha Sethi
Photo:Jaishree
Have you stopped eating or are you on a strict diet to attain that perfect size? Beware. You might be heading towards health loss rather than weight loss. Anorexia, an eating disorder is on the rise in India and you might be the next victim. Neha Sethi talks about anorexia, its symptoms and after effects.
Rekha (name changed), a 16-year old, who weighed 75 kgs was very conscious of being fat. Constant nagging by classmates and not enough care at home drove her to the brink of developing anorexia. “One day Rekha’s mother came to me and said that she was worried because her daughter was eating very less and was also behaving in a peculiar manner,” says Dr Geetu Amarnani, Nutrition expert, Kolmet Hospital, Pusa Road.
Amarnani says that these symptoms indicate the probability of developing anorexia later on. “These days we get many cases like these. Rekha is just an example, but there are many more like her,” she adds. “Anorexia” she says, “is a kind of eating disorder which can later develop into a psychological problem, if attention is not paid and treatment is not given.”
The general conception is that anorexia usually affects adolescents. But trends of increasing number of cases of anorexia have been observed even amongst adults in the West. “Anorexia is a disorder observed in teenagers from 13-18 years of age, and it is mostly girls who are affected. I haven’t come across any adult case till now,” says Dr Vandana Garg, Consultant Physician, Goodwill Hospital, Noida.
“Anorexia is a relatively new disorder in India. Also, it is mostly prevalent amongst the urban middle or urban rich class,” says Dr Atul Sardana, Consultant Surgeon at Kolmet Hospital. He holds the media responsible for the increasing number of cases of anorexia in the country. “All girls want an hour-glass figure these days. They all want to be as thin as models and actresses.”
The same sentiment is echoed by Rekha’s mother, who didn’t want to be named. “When I came to know that Rekha has started eating very less, I went to her room to talk to her. And imagine my shock, when all around her room walls all I see is newly pinned posters of toothpick thin models and actresses. They were her inspiration.”
Dr Amarnani says anorexia can also be attributed to changing lifestyle trends in India. “Due to busy schedules, most women don’t have time to keep a check on what their children are eating. This means the children get more influenced by television and their friends.”
Anorexia can prove to be very dangerous if not diagnosed and treated early, says Dr.Amarnani. “It is during adolescence that the body builds stocks of vitamins, calcium and iron. If a person does not eat properly during that age, then it becomes very difficult to replenish those sources later in life,” she adds.
Shruti Yadav, 22, a law student at Delhi University, New Delhi, who lost 20 kgs when she was 18 says, “I lost weight only because I was regular with my exercise routine. I never skipped meals and nor did I overdo exercise. It is not necessary to diet or starve to lose weight. I lost 20 kgs without doing any of that.”
Weight loss should not become an obsession. As Dr.Amarnani says, “Family has a very important role to play. They should educate their children about the right and wrong ways to lose weight and keep a check on them.”
Common symptoms of Anorexia:
· Fatigued and tired look
· Thin appearance
· Frequent dizziness
· Low blood counts
· Some irregularities in menstrual cycles
· Uninterested in activities happening around
· Making excuses to avoid eating food
· Withdrawal or seclusion
· In extreme cases, chest pain
Anorexia may lead to:
· Malnutrition
· Deficiency of vitamins and iron in the body which leads to anemia
· Dark circles under the eye
· Lack of calcium leading to muscle wasting or bone thinning
· Stress
· Depression
· Body cannot cope up with deficiencies
· Miscarriage during pregnancy
No Place to Park? Well, the road is all yours
By
Neha Sethi
Photo:Jaishree
There is a traffic jam on the road outside Delhi Public School (DPS), Mathura Road. It is the same scene every morning and afternoon. And is the school getting away with it just because it is one of the top educational institutions in the capital?
“There is a lot of chaos on the stretch in front of DPS, Mathura Road everyday, especially in the morning, when parents come to drop their children. All of them park their cars on the main road and then it’s a problem for people like us who travel through that stretch everyday,” says Arshdeep Kaur, a nurse in Escorts Hospital, who has to commute through Mathura road.
The traffic outside DPS becomes unmanageable in the morning and afternoon, but it gets even worse if there is an event taking place in the school.
The 23rd of August, a Saturday, was a particularly torturous day for Seema Kapoor, a 24-year old who has her office in Okhla. This was because the same day was also when DPS had their parent-teacher meeting. “It was complete chaos,” she says “Cars were parked on both the sides of the main road. And at some points, there were two lanes of cars.”
So where does the solution to this problem lie? Muktesh Chander, the Additional Commissioner of Police, Traffic Police, puts the responsibility back on the people’s head. “The people should call the traffic help line and inform us about such traffic jams. It is also the school’s responsibility to tell us before hand so that we are prepared for it. Actually the main problem is that there is no law of Government of Delhi which says that it is compulsory for all schools to have a parking space. Most schools face this problem especially in the afternoon, when parents come to pick their children,” he says.
But try to talk to the school authorities and the Principal is not available for comment. An official from the Principal’s office, who didn’t want to be named, clarifies the school’s position. “A part of our land was taken away during the construction of the flyover in front of our school before the ASIAD games and we were promised a parking lot to compensate for that part of land,” he says. “A request regarding the compensation of land has been sent to many officials including the PWD, the Mayor of Delhi, Arti Mehra, the Police Commissioner, the Deputy Commissioner of MCD and the MP of our area, but to no avail,” he adds.
The parents, on the other hand, say that they have no other option other than parking on the road. Sushma Bhasin, mother of a child studying in DPS says, “What option do we have other than parking on the road? It is up to the school authorities and the traffic police to come up with a solution, it’s not our problem.”
So, till all the parties involved arrive on a consensus on who is actually to be blamed, commuters like Seema have no other option but to find out a way to avoid that route.
By: Neha Sethi, Sumiran Preet Kaur and Gaurav
Femalesutra
A chemist shop owner in Okhla is flabbergasted when you ask for a female condom. He knows what a condom is. But a female condom? Surely he mustn’t have heard it right. But he is too shy to ask the woman to repeat, so he says that he doesn’t have whatever she wants.Welcome to India. We don’t talk about sex, it’s a western concept. Nevertheless, we are the second most populated country in the world, not far behind China.
India also has the second highest number of HIV infected people according to UN agencies. 2.5 million people in India are living with HIV according to UNAIDS. The government and NACO (National AIDS Control Organisation) have come out with various new campaigns to promote condoms in order to control the virus.
But these promotional campaigns are only restricted to male condoms. No efforts have been made to even introduce Indians to female condoms. As a result, women, the prospective users of female condoms hardly know about it.
Shahana Usmani, a resident of Batla House shies away as soon as the word ‘condom’ is mentioned. And upon hearing about female condoms she ignores the question and doesn’t answer.
Anita Devi, a resident of Katputli Colony shows a similar reaction. The words female condoms were so funny for her that she kept giggling for two minutes before she could say “I don’t know anything about it.”
But then, there are women like Sana Khan, a resident of New Friends Colony, who don’t need an advertisement to tell them about female condoms. “I know about female condoms and have also used them. After all, it is my sexual health and I am concerned about it” she says confidently.
In the absence of government initiatives, we can only hope that Shahana starts thinking like Sana before it is too late.
