Sexually transmitted diseases like syphilis and gonorrhea are fairly wide spread in India.

The government initiated a centrally aided National Control Programme on Sexually Transmitted Diseases during the Second Five Year Plan programme. It was also placed under a national control programme during the Second Five Year Plan by the Government of India and then it became a centrally sponsored scheme under the Fourth Plan. The programmes related to Sexually Transmitted Diseases, mainly concerned with

(i) Establishing S.T.D clinics through out the country

(ii) Supply of Drugs and

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(iii) Conducting training courses for medical and Para- medical personnel.

During the Fourth Plan the central government assistance was extended to grants- in- aid to states for establishing new STD clinics and supplying drugs like Benzedrine, penicillin etc, to the Sexually Transmitted. Diseases as one of the major factors for transmission of HIV infection, the programme has been merged with the AIDS control programme.

The main emphasis in the control of STD has been on teaching, training, research, and health and community education. Regional units have been established in several cities such as Kolkata, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Nagpur to function on zonal basis in the control of Sexually Transmitted Diseases.

There are increasing cases of Sexually Transmitted Diseases due to unprotected sex, non taking proper care of these diseases and multiple sexual partner nature of sex. The STD is more prevalent in lower section of society who lives in unhygienic health conditions.