In UP you've got mail, and a condom

In UP you've got mail, and a condom
R.B. SINGH

LUCKNOW, OCTOBER 14: In Uttar Pradesh, you won't only get mail; you could also get a condom along with it. The government of the country's most populous state is so serious about taking family planning right to its citizens' doorsteps that it will supply free condoms through dakiyas and even dudhwalas.

Anuradha Johari, Executive Director of the UP State Innovation in Family Planning Service Agency (SIFPSA), said 400 daksahayaks have been specially trained for this `delicate job' in Agra and Ferozabad districts. They plan to be on the job from November. Each postman will be paid an honorarium of Rs 100, and an additional Rs 100 for fulfilling targets. The targets, though, haven't been fixed.

``If the idea clicks, more districts will be covered,'' says Johari. Once people get habituated to using contraceptives, its free supply will be discontinued.

It's ambitious, if not downright drastic, but then Uttar Pradesh's population is 17 crore at present. The State has tinkered around with several schemes, the first of which was launched way back in 1956. Yet, only 50 lakh people use contraceptives at present.

The state government will also launch a `Population Control Week' from October 16, to be inaugurated by Chief Minister Ram Prakash Gupta. On that day, the State's district magistrates and chief medical officers will organise meetings of gram pradhans in their respective districts and talk about making the population policy a succes. For now though, the State's pinning its hopes on condoms through the mailbox.