Educating Mrs. Swaraj: Editorial of Hindustan Times

August 25, 2003

Educating Mrs. Swaraj (Editorial of Hindustan Times)

If wishes were horses, all that is needed to halt the AIDS meance in its track

is to tell people to practice abstinence and stick to one sexual partner

Unfortunately for Sushma Swaraj, wishes are not horses and human nature remains

out of sync with the health minister's version of ideal social behaviour. Ever

since Mrs Swaraj wanted all future AIDS awareness campaigns to shift its focus

from the use of condoms to 'abstinence and faithfulness', critics pointed out

that her suggestion is seriously lopsided.

Now Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has joined those who see Mrs

Swaraj as being more than a trifle impractical. And Mr Naidu should know,

considering that his state has the dubious distinction of recording the second

highest number of AIDS cases in the country.Mrs Swaraj's objections to

'condom-centric' awareness campaigns are rather bizarre — although not quite

unexpected from someone who as I & B minister had problems regarding the

'translucency' of television newscasters' blouses and the contents of a

particular fashion channel. Her antipathy against contraceptives is based on the

notion that tom-tomming its 'benefits' will encourage 'immorality' and lead to a

licentious population.

The fact that the priority is to tackle AIDS — and not to usher in a latter-day

satya yug — seems to be lost on the morals minister. Sure, there is a

correlation between a 'libertine' sexual behaviour and the transmission of AIDS.

But as Mr Naidu understands, sermonising is one thing and being practical is

another.AIDS is a serious problem. If ignored or tackled in impractical ways,

it can assume epidemic proportions. The use of contraceptives is low among

Indians — a mere 2 per cent. While the HIV virus is transmitted through

non-sexual means also (such as blood transfusion), the bulk of incidences are

contracted from unsafe sexual intercourse.

To suggest abstinence to stop AIDS from spreading is akin to telling people not

to eat in order to tackle obesity. It won't work for people not sharing Mrs

Swaraj's high moral standards.

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