Condoms shortage hits Central government!

The Central government in a bid to control the spread of HIV/AIDS is distributing free condoms to people under the government’s AIDS and population control programmes. This program initiated in 2005 was a big success and government every year procures 75% of the total required condoms and other contraceptives from Hindustan Latex Limited (HLL) every year.

However Hindustan Latex Limited is not able to meet the demand from the last three years forcing the government to procure it from private players. The previous government ignored the procurement from private players but Narendra Modi government is keen on doing it.

The drastic reduction in condoms allocation to states in the last thre years endangered the gains of family planning programmes as well higher risk of spreading HIV infection. So Modi government recently placed orders with private players through central public procurement system for the procurement of condoms.