Condoms??? I’d rather have coke!!!

The recent installation of Condom vending machines in the university campuses at Delhi as well as in public urinals all over the capital has aroused varied opinions. Will Mumbai universities follow suit?

You’ll be surprised this is coming from a 22-year-old, but nevertheless, it’s an opinion. .

Whoever thought that a condom could come straight out of a vending machine is one heaven of a genius. The wonders of human creation. First, coke cans and then, candy and hey, now condoms. Isn’t it amazing what the human mind can do? So, the idea sounds great. And think about this, not even half of the university campuses in Delhi that have the condom vending machine will have a coke vending machine.

So, that brings in my second argument. With condoms that accessible, would sex be more of a conscious choice? Think of it this way….. Would a couple being aware of the condom machine still choose to hang out behind the rocks and crevices, where they previously used to make out superficially for fear of pregnancy, or would they simply look for a better place to have sex, now that the safety part is taken care of?

Oh! We understand your intention ‘Aunt Aids Awareness’. It’s only aids that you want to prevent. The Indian National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) estimates that approximately 5,100,000 Indians are infected with Aids. Most of these are men and women over the age of 30 and children below the age of 10. Also, the south Indian states of Andhra Pradesh (2.25%) and Karnataka (1.25%) are the states that harbour most victims. The list on the NACO statistics do not feature Delhi. Condom vending machines in ‘university campuses’ in Delhi??? Mull over this awhile. I’m wondering myself.

Doesn’t this have less to do with preventing aids and more to do with promoting safe sex? And what is sex with a condom ‘safe’? ‘Safe’ is subjective isn’t it? Does ‘safe’ mean protection from aids? Does ‘safe’ mean a lifelong promise to commit? Does ‘safe’ mean to have and to hold for better and for worse? Statistics also say that 93% of relationships that involve pre- marital sex do not end up in marriage. The condoms can come easily but commitment doesn’t come easy, does it? The coins seem little to give away in exchange for a condom but is virginity that inexpensive?

Will Mumbai colleges be next? We can’t let our college grounds be places where the sex is defiled and separated from the confines of matrimony. Nah! We’re substance. We don’t need those machines in our colleges. Get us the coke vending machines instead. Period.