A stands for abstinence

MDACS ropes in students to promote safe sex through creative contests and interactive activities at Ganpati mandals

A stands for abstinence

MDACS ropes in students to promote safe sex through creative contests and interactive activities at Ganpati mandals

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"A for abstinence, B for being faithful, and C for condoms."

At many Ganpati mandals in the city this year, you are likely to receive this elementary lesson in alphabet, famously associated with former US president George Bush Jr.

In a first of its kind, 100-odd Ganpati mandals in the city have partnered with the Mumbai District Aids Control Society (MDACS) in a bid to create awareness on HIV transmission and promote safe sex.

MDACS has roped in students from 100-odd colleges who are designated as members of the Red Ribbon Club (RRC) to execute the awareness programme, which, other than the alphabet, includes street plays and various creative contests.

Getting people to talk about sex and HIV at a religious forum wasn't easy. "Initially, it was difficult to get an affirmative response from the mandals.

But after we explained to them that students are doing it for the young, the mandals agreed," said Dr Avinash Karande, professor at MD College in Parel.

In fact, Karande also helped students from Kelkar College to get permission from the Sarvoday Nagar Ganesh Utsav Mandal in Bhandup to organise the awareness drive at the mandals.

"The students are concentrating on the ABC propaganda. We have asked them to concentrate more on A and B," added Karande who coordinated the RCC of MD College.

"The student groups have undergone training from experts to promote safe sex.

They approached the Ganpati mandals, and some 100 of them have permitted them for the three-day awareness drive on their premises," said Vinitha Venkatraman, joint director-IEC (Communication), MDACS.

Not that shy
RRC member and student of Nirmala College, Bhoomika Parekh, said, "We already completed our three-day drive in a Goregaon mandal. We received a heartening response from participants who were ready to talk about HIV and clear their doubts."

MDACS had launched the campaign with an aim to normalise condoms and project youth as the agent of change.

Promoted as an international youth day campaign, the initiative is by the youth and for the youth, which is the high-risk group for HIV.

"We are even planning to reward the Mandals that support the cause most effectively. The best NGO will also be awarded," added, Venkatraman.

President of Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsavu00a0 Samanvay Samiti, Naresh Dahibavkar said, "It's a good initiative and we appeal to all the mandals in the city to create awareness on HIV.

People perceive that Mumbai's Ganpati celebrations are just about dancing, but we undertake various social programs.

Earlier we had propagated on smoke free and anti-tobacco campaigns. Our mandals will not shy away from topics that have social relevance."u00a0

100
Estimated number of mandals across the city to create awareness on HIV transmission and promote safe sex

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