Re Use of Matrimonials to raise awareness of HIV

[Guest guest]

Dear people,

I find all these discussions re HIV testing in matrimonial columns a bit

pointless – as they always and necessarily – target urban middle-income,

literate groups, the group who are most informed about risks of HIV anyway.

Mallika rightly says that lots of young people are getting married everyday – I

ask all of you – just what percentage of them arranges marriages through

matrimonial columns? The MAJORITY of Indians who arrange marriages, do so

through their social networks: it’s the urban middle class only that resorts to

matrimonial columns. [i dare say not even the rich and super-rich use

matrimonial columns – but others in the group may know more about this class

than I do...]

So the reach of any HIV awareness programme through matrimonial columns

necessarily will be very limited. Are we trying to reach

maximum numbers of marriageable couples with HIV awareness or do we want to

develop a 'gimmicky' awareness programme that will be grist of mill for the

chattering classes?

Dr. Amitrajit Saha

Kolkata (India)

E-mail: amitrajitsaha@...