PHO demand ban on PSI's BALBIR PASHA Ad campaign

[Guest guest]

PHO DEMAND TO BAN " BALBIR PASHA "

PHO initiative to ban the controversial 'Balbir Pasha' campaign received a

shot-in-arm with the Government of Maharashtra's decision to conduct inquiry in

the campaign and its perpetrator - a US-based multi-national corporate NGO

Population Services International (PSI). The Maharashtra State Women's

Commission Chairperson Smt. Nirmala Samant Prabhawalkar is also investigating

the matter based on PHO complaint that it is an anti-woman - sexist campaign,

spreading misinformation and myths rather than serving any important purpose.

Several women groups are contemplating action against the campaign.

Surprisingly, despite the assurance by the Minister of State for Home, Mr. Kripa

Shankar Singh on the floor of the Maharashtra Legislative Council last week, to

ban the 'Balbir Pasha' campaign, no action seems to have been taken.

Past two months have seen the mystery of 'Balbir Pasha' that created curiosity

among people to know on - what it is about? But as the saga started un-folding,

it became disgusting day by day, a mere effort to push the sale of a particular

brand of condom, marketed by PSI. It turned out to be an insensitive and immoral

campaign, instead of an awareness effort as was supposedly intended by PSI,

unexpected of from one of most HIV-aware city- Mumbai. The campaign has done

more harm than any good. It started creating hatred for HIV/AIDS patients

afresh, in contrast to the theme of World AIDS Day-2002 to reduce stigma and

discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS. On the eve of the new year, some

ill-informed community groups even burn an effigy of 'Balbir Pasha' at one place

while at another 'Balbir Pasha' was shown being beaten-up with sticks and shoes,

for getting AIDS. It has created a panic among mutually monogamous and married

couples that have no place for condoms in their conjugal relationships.

The US-sponsored big budget massive advertisement campaign's current

advertisement reads: Balbir Pasha ki Regular Sirf Manjula Hai; par Manjula ke

Kai Regular Hai. (Manjula is regular partner of Balbir Pasha, but Manjula has

many regulars). Some of the myths and misinformation perpetrated from this

campaign are: AIDS is transmitted only from woman to man; only those consuming

alcohol, can get AIDS; even faithful partners not using condom in their conjugal

relationship, can get AIDS; AIDS is transmitted only through sex and an infected

person gets AIDS directly (without getting HIV). It ignores the vital fact that,

what is transmitted through unsafe sex is HIV, and AIDS comes after several

years as a last stage of HIV disease.

Joining the bandwagon, one Reshma Enterprise has released the film last night at

Shalimar Talkies in Mumbai and other places in India - " Balbir Pasha ko AIDS Ho

Gaya..Kaise? " produced by some Purushottam and directed by some Prem Sagar,

showing 'AIDS and Blind Sex' as theme of the poster; an excellent example of

'pornography'. While one NGO has even put up banners in the city saying: " Aao

Milkar Hath Bantaye; Balbir Pasha ko AIDS se Bachayen " , as if they have Cure or

Vaccine for AIDS!

PHO will intensify its course of action involving socially conscious citizens,

women organizations, sex workers, people living with HIV/AIDS to ban the 'Balbir

Pasha' campaign forthwith, as it has disastrous consequences and threatens the

good work done by the state in AIDS awareness during last decade. The

bottomline should be " Pasha Ho yaa Asha; AIDS se na bane Jindagi Tamasha! " (Do

not allow your life to be ruined due to AIDS)!

Dr.I.S.Gilada, Secretary General, PHO & Consultant in HIV/AIDS

Peoples Health Organisation (India)

Municipal School Building, J.J. Hospital Compd, Mumbai-400008

Tel.(22)-23719020 Telefax: 23864433 Web: www.aidsasia.info

E-mail: ihoaids@...