In Bihar if you visit the betel shop of Nand Lal, do not be surprised if you are given a packet of condoms for free with you favourite 'paan'. Owning a small wooden shop tucked away in a corner of the bustling Falka Bazar of Katihar district, 45-year-old Lal has been handing out free contraceptives to his customers since November to spread awareness about AIDS and population explosion. When asked about it, Lal quoted, “I read about burgeoning population and the increasing incidents of AIDS and realized that every Indian has to do his bit to counter them. So many adults come to my shop... I thought why not provide them condoms with a request to indulge in safe sex and try limiting the family to two children.†"At first a few of my clients took umbrage at this, but when they understood that I meant well, they started liking it. Today I have no problem with any of them. I also realized that many people do not buy condoms out of shyness. They are very supportive of my move," he added. †When an NGO came to know about Lal’s noble initiative, then they also started providing him some packets of contraceptives regularly for distributing it to the people. The Health Department in Bihar has also applauded the inventiveness of Lal and has announced to provide free condoms to him, very soon.
