Safe sarees, not safe sex

[Guest guest]

Hello all,

Do you people think that this is the reason the free supply is disappearing? Mr.

Prasad Rao at the UNGASS told some of us that he fears the condoms are

disappearing. Reckon he's right eh? in solidarity,

Meena Saraswathi Seshu

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RAJEEV DIKSHIT

THE TIMES OF INDIA NEWS SERVICE

ARANASI: What is generally needed in weaving Banarasi sarees is silk yarn,

zari, loom with dharki' (bobbin), and of course the skilled hands of a weaver.

There is another important, though unconventional, manufacturing

component--condom.

Believe it or not, but in Varanasi, the condom plays an important role in

weaving Banarasi sarees, particularly on hand looms. As per a rough estimate,

the daily consumption of condoms is about six lakh units in the weavers'

localities.

A weaver working on loom pulls out the condom in half its length and then rubs

it on the bobbin. The lubricant on the condom smoothens the bobbin and makes it

move faster between threads.

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we are using condoms since childhood but not for dirty work

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No one knows who invented this unique use of condom in saree weaving, but

today almost all the weavers have adopted this technique. The convenor of

Bunkar Bachao Andolan, Mahfooz Alam, says that there are about 1.5 lakh looms

in Varanasi and the average daily consumption is four condoms on each loom.

" We use it only for lubricating the bobbin, " says Anis of Bazardiha area.

From where the weavers procure the huge quantity of condoms is also

interesting. Some of them get condoms free of cost, courtesy the family

planning department and NGOs working on family planning, while majority of

them purchase cheaper brands. They generally look for cheaper brands if the

free supply is not available. Those registered with the local health centres

or having good relations with health department volunteers, get their supplies

free.

The health department, on the basis of monthly progress report, allots condoms

to health centres and sub-centres for distribution. According to Dr M N Yadav

of the family planning department, 37 lakh condoms were distributed in Varanasi

in 1999-2000. On an average, the department gives six condoms to a user in a

month. According to the records of the department, there are only 49,131

registered condom users in Varanasi.

The chief medical officer (CMO), Dr A K Dwivedi, also admitted the misuse of

condoms saying that he was aware of it as also the registration of some persons

with fake identity.

Unfortunately, despite having such information the health department

authorities never tried to find out why their family planning programmes

failed to achieve the targets.

To get free condoms, weavers have also started approaching clinics of doctors

in their respective localities who have quota for free distribution. Mobin, a

weaver, says, hum bachpan se istemal kar rahein hai lekin gande kaam ke liye

nahin. (We are using condoms since childhood but not for dirty work).

It does not mean that the weavers are not aware that they are misusing condoms.

If a similar quality lubricant is made available at cheaper cost, this misuse

may be stopped, says Mahfooz. But it is not easy to convince all such condom

users. Afsar, another weaver, says that it is easy to rub the bobbin with a

condom as it is less time cosuming. They want lubricant oil in the form of

roller bottles. Many children, working on looms, also use this 'dharki pe

lagaane wala gubbara' with ease

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