Condom ads on television could be driving youngsters to…use condoms!

The I&B ministry is confronted with an issue of topmost national security — national protection, actually. It has reportedly received a “flood of complaints” from citizens — mainly concerned lawyers, grandmothers and politicians —about how condom ads shown on TV “are spoiling kids” and “have given rise to free sex”. While a study is yet to investigate whether ‘free sex’ in this country existed before these ads were aired, the point is that petitions to pull them off the air have reached the representatives of the ma-baap state. Being an understanding and ‘modern’ ma-baap, GoI has said no to any ban on these condom ads. But young, frisky Indians, according to the I&B ministry and probably IB sources too, stay away from TV between 11:00 pm and 5:00 am. So, it is mulling over restricting these ads to “certain hours that fall after family-viewing time”.

One complainant split hairs rather dexterously, pointing out that earlier condoms were “depicted as a contraceptive method and a way of family planning” and now are shown “as pleasure-enhancers”. We all know how the ‘Wear it for the country, beta’ pitch has worked out. The problem isn’t whether condom use should be encouraged or not. National policy can’t be suddenly peeled off. It’s whether one should be using contraception for — god forbid! — pleasure.