Educational Campaigns

I have been extremely impressed with the municipal government of Calcutta. They seem to be sincerely committed to the launch of public educational campaigns. I've seen flashing electronic signs, similar to the "caution, delays ahead" variety, on the highway advising against pollution and its effects on global warming. These billboards on HIV/AIDS dot the urban landscape in both Bengali and English - nestled in amongst the towering pictures of Bollywood stars selling coke and ornate, gold wedding jewelry.

One NGO in Calcutta has had great success with reaching long distance truck drivers - a group that is particularly vulnerable. They send out a worker in a giant condom costume to patrol rest stops and hand out free condoms. Apparently it has gone over well. ...I would dearly love to see such a giant condom man.

Although countries in Africa have the highest percentages globally in terms of citizens infected by HIV/AIDS out of the total national population, India is about to take the lead in pure numbers. Happily the government, in West Bengal at least, seems to have decided to commit to step up the pace. That's a small victory for communism on the ground, I guess. -The government here has been dominated by the socialist party since the 70s, unique in this aspect from greater democratic India.