The sale of condoms across the state by the social marketing wing of the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) has increased by 50 per cent this year when compared to last year.

Besides increased awareness among people on “playing safe,” social marketing teams are motivating retailers across the state with various schemes to sell condoms. NACO sells condoms manufactured by the state owned Hindustan Latex Limited.

While the sale of condoms between July 2009 and June 2010 was 9.1 millions, it was 14.5 millions between July 2010 and June 2011.

“There has been a great growth in condom sale. Our aim is to make condoms av-ailable to everyone as part of the NACO project, especially to high risk groups. Now you can see our condo-ms even in a small departmental store or a pan shop,” the NACO social marketing state manager, Mr Nityanand Das told this newspaper.

The teams look for non traditional outlets other than medical stores to sell condoms. This year they have increased the outlets to 31,000 in all 23 districts. The teams also provide gifts to retailers to motivate them to sell NACO’s condoms. If the outlets buy a certain amount of condoms, they will be given towels, kitchenware and bed sheets as gifts.