Progress of campaign against HIV/AIDS on Indian Highways

[Guest guest]

" MISSION HIGHWAY - To FIGHT against HIV/AIDS "

Rtr.Birendra Kr.Soni a member of Rotaract Club of Bombay Hills South and post

graduate student of College of Social Work (Nirmala Niketan) , Mumbai University

is on an all India tour on motorcycle to spread awareness about the HIV/AIDS

related legal issues. In his 150 day tour which flagged of on 21st December 2003

from Gateway of India, Mumbai, he plans to visit 18 states and over 60 cities

all over India. His “Mission Highway – to FIGHT against HIV/AIDS” as he calls it

will cover over 150 highway side dhabas( Restaurant meant for truckers and other

travellers via highway ) where he will be sensitizing truck drivers about issues

related to HIV/AIDS and over 200 public meetings on the issue at various cities

and villages with youth which will come on the way.

Apart from getting experience and watching the country from a close proximity

the idea behind the campaign is to see the present awareness level of HIV/AIDS

among the citizens and make people aware more on the legal issues related to the

disease. The objective of this campaign is to explore various rights and legal

issues that have benefited just a handful of HIV/AIDS patients but need to be

available for majority of HIV/AIDS infected or affected person and their

families. The campaign also intends to motivate youth to utilize services

provided by the government of India like Voluntary Counselling Test Centre

(VCTC) for better information and education in various towns and villages of

India or all India hotline number 1097 for the information and assistance on

HIV/AIDS related issues.

Rtr.Birendra has adopted a unique methodology to communicate with the truck

drivers. He travels through the highways during day time and takes halts at

various dhabas. This is the time when most of the truck drivers also take for

rest at these dhabas.. here he sits and with a cup of tea he plays an audio

cassette of HIV/AIDS message and songs. Usually it does attract some of the

truckers and then he starts a conversation with them and slowly he starts

talking to these truckers. Though he does face some language problem while

communicating with these truckers as their mother tongues are different in

various parts of country and especially in south. But he found that most of

these drivers do understand at least some bit of Hindi.

Apart from these truck drivers he meets with urban and rural youth too. For this

he has done a networking with the regional chapters / units of Rotary

International club / Rotaract Clubs , YMCA ,Colleges , School and Youth Hostel.

He has also contact various NGOs working in the villages and colleges of Social

work who organize these participatory talks.

In every city he is spending about three nights and two days. During his stay in

every city he is also visiting Volunteer Counselling Test Centers, HIV positive

patients and organizations who are working with CSW (Commercial Sex Workers).

Till now in his campaign Birendra has realized that most of the people are aware

about prevention and mode, non mode of HIV/AIDS but they don’t know much as to

where can they go for test. He also found that in most of the places people are

not aware of VCTC even though these centres are available in most of the towns

and even if they know about it , they do not go there as they assume it is not

trust worthy as it is a government centre and second it provides test just for

rupees five to ten.These are just a few of the initial observations of his tour.

There is a lot more to come. He plans to give a full report of his findings and

experiences on 16th May 2004 when he will end his tour in Mumbai on the occasion

of International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Day.

Though Birendra put most of the money for this tour from his own resources he

could not arrange money for the petrol expense throughout his journey of 25,000

kilometers. At this time Mr. Suhashh Patki (Executive Vice President of

BOBCARDS) came forward and sponsored him the money for fuel from BOBCARDS. He

was also given a Bharat Premium credit card by the BOBCARD on zero interest for

the period of travel. Seeing his enthusiasm and dedication for the cause,

Mr.Stanlly karkada (General Secretry, Bombay YMCA) arranged his accommodation

through chain of YMCA in various city. Other Partners are Rotary International

through their Rotaract Club Network and AASRA Charitable Trust .Rtr. Birendra

mentioned " Till today Rotaract Club of Manglore Central and Mysore were one of

the best host "

The response Rtr.Birendra is getting on the way is very positive by the local

communities and groups. I never thought I will get such a positive response from

people whom I have never met. These people are motivating and inspiring me a lot

and I am going on my “ Mission Highway ” without thinking as to what returns

will I get.

Rtr. Lekha

President Bombay Hills South

Email: stopaids@...