The government on Thursday allocated Rs 259 crore (Rs 2.59 billion) for prevention and control of the dreaded HIV-AIDS.

The amount will be utilised, among other things, for improved surveillance through the setting up of more sentinal sites and use of primary health centres to monitor HIV-AIDS,

Finance Minsiter P Chidambaram said while presenting the 2004-05 General Budget in the Lok Sabha.

The money would also be used for public awareness campaigns, promotion of safe sex through the use of condoms, prevention of drug abuse and distribution of disposable syringes, he said.