Patna, July 16 (IANS) Bihar has left other states behind in free distribution of condoms in India, officials at the state’s AIDS control society said here Wednesday. The state has distributed 10.1 million condoms in 2007-08. The figure was 8.6 million in 2006-07 and 3.5 million in 2002-03.

Officials said most of the condoms were distributed through NGOs.

Bihar State AIDS Control Society (BSACS) figures show 850,000 condoms were distributed in Patna district, 750,000 in Kishanganj, 700,000 in Muzaffarpur and 600,000 in Katihar.

“Bihar is on the top in free distribution of condoms; other states including metro cities are lagging behind,” said Tejasvi, an associate of the National Aids Control Organisation (NACO).

The condom distribution programme is also expected to aid family planning efforts. Bihar has a population growth rate of 4.1 percent, almost double the national average of 2.1 percent.