Letter to the Honorable President of India

[Guest guest]

From

Dr. (Sr.) Vadakekara MBBS, PGDCAP (UK)

Child Psychiatrist, Coordinator,

THRANI center for crisis control

www.THRANI.org

TC 15/2479, Red Cross Road,

Vanchiyoor PO, Thiruvananthapuram - 695 035

Kerala, India

Tel: 0471-2300 333 / 2300 334

Cell: 98461 - 35003

eMail: thrani@...

To

Respected Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

Honorable President of India

Honorable President of India,

Your concern over the discrimination and stigmatization of two children in =

Kerala is highly appreciable. We, at THRANI Center for Crisis Control, Keral=

a have been working in the HIV/AIDS intervention, suicide prevention and men=

tal health promotion for the last five years.

The objective of this letter is to bring your kind attention regarding the =

plight of several HIV infected children in Kerala either orphaned or living =

with single parent. Currently most of them are enrolled in regular schools. =

Our main concerns are:

* What if other school managements follow the suit of Kaithakuzhy School?

* Then who can and who will protect these innocent victims?

* Can we turn a deaf ear to these out right violation of human rights?

Therefore, we humbly furnish the following based on our experience and fact=

s gathered from concerned individuals involved in this specific issue.

BACKGROUND

In 1991, Mr. Chandy Pillai Koshy was married to Ms. and was livin=

g in Mumbai (Chandy's work place). Betty, Benzy and Benson were born to them=

in 1993, 1995 and 1997 respectively. Betty died of chronic diarrhea at the =

age of three and a half years. In 1996, Chandy and family returned to their =

home place- Kaithakuzhy, Chathannur in Kollam district of Kerala. In 1997 Ch=

andy was taken very ill and was diagnosed to have AIDS. He died shortly and =

it is alleged that his seropositive status was communicated to his wife and =

her family only just before his death.

Thereafter 's parents took charge of them against the wishes of Chandy =

Pillai's family. had HIV test done in 1998 and her seropositive status =

made the situation worse. Mr. Varghese ('s father) claims that they have=

spent over Rs. 2,00,000/- including Rs. 24,000/- for Fair Pharma, Ernakulam=

just to extent her life for few more years. In spite of all these measures =

succumbed to death in 2000.

The early education of Benzy and Benson was at Kattachal Seventh Day Advent=

ist's School, which had to be discontinued due to financial constraints. Aft=

er a series of expulsions and enrollments from three other schools – namely =

Sugathan Memorial School at Velichikala for 28 days, Punnakode School for a =

day and St. English Medium School, Adichanallur for 2½ months – becau=

se of felt stigma. In this context, Mr. Varghese appealed to Mr. Pratapavarm=

a Thampan (the local MLA of Chathannur constituency), to intervene. However =

his response was derogatory. Considering the predicament of the children, Mr=

.. Varghese approached Mr. A. K. Antony, the Honorable Chief Minister of Kera=

la and this move was acted upon immediately. Benson and Benzy were enrolled =

at nearby Government Lower Primary School at Kaithakuzhy.

ACTUAL INCIDENT

Within a week, the parent-teachers association (PTA) of this school declare=

d that 112 other parents are not going to send their children to the school =

and requested transfer certificates. At this juncture, Kerala State AIDS Con=

trol Society (KSACS) conducted awareness sessions for PTA. This in fact back=

fired as people became more confused and fearful. Within a week there was to=

tal boycotting of school except Benzy and Benson, which was followed by the =

infamous public meeting on March 4th 2003. In this gathering, the final verd=

ict that stamps upon the fundamental human rights of Benzy and Benson (right=

against discrimination, right to education etc) was publicly declared by th=

e words of common people and by the silence and helpless attitude adopted by=

the authorities. As a solution to this issue, the Government of Kerala anno=

unced that these children would be schooled at home.

As observers, we are raising the following questions and concerns:

1. Isn't it high time for evaluating and modifying the approach, content an=

d process of HIV/AIDS awareness programmes promoted by Kerala State AIDS Con=

trol Society?

2. Can the State of Kerala afford to offer home based education for all HIV=

positive children?

3. What happens to the emotional and behavioral development of these childr=

en, which is possible mainly through healthy social interactions with peers =

in a school setting?

4. Isn't this home schooling a clear violation of their rights relating to =

life, liberty, equality and dignity as the individual, guaranteed by the Ind=

ian constitution and embodied in the international covenants?

5. Acquiring HIV infection, is it a crime, and AIDS victim, a criminal?

6. If lessening stigma and discrimination is our priority, do we ever pause=

to think the implication of segregating HIV infected people, whether it be =

at schools, health care centers, work place?

SUGGESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

* Anti-discrimination policy towards HIV/AIDS to be developed by the Govern=

ment with immediate effect and is to be supported by Law.

* Policies to ensure that, HIV infected children to be enrolled in schools =

just like any other children. HIV infection shall not be a factor in decisio=

ns concerning class arrangements, privileges or participation in any school =

sponsored activity.

* School based awareness sessions to highlight that there is no significant=

risk of transmitting HIV infection to other children in the school setting =

and to equip teachers and school authorities to ensure the safety and health=

of all children.

* Protecting and safeguarding the employment and health care rights of peop=

le, ensuring confidentiality and respect for human rights.

* Prevention programmes not to be based on fear, but to highlight developin=

g a non-judgmental attitude and to foster tolerance and social solidarity.

* Communication campaign in the media (print, audio and visual), challengin=

g popular myths and stereotypes and envisioning attitudinal change.

* Strategy to combat gender bias in HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination, as =

women are more likely to be blamed even when they have been infected by thei=

r husbands, leaving a terrible toll on them as mothers, as daughters, as car=

e givers and as people living with HIV/AIDS

Sir, with due respect we submit these facts before you with the hope and ex=

pectation of a kind and favorable action.

Faithfully yours

(signed)

Vadakekara

26th March 2003

Copies to:

Ministers of Kerala & Other concerned individuals

[Guest guest]

From

Dr. (Sr.) Vadakekara MBBS, PGDCAP (UK)

Child Psychiatrist, Coordinator,

THRANI center for crisis control

www.THRANI.org

TC 15/2479, Red Cross Road,

Vanchiyoor PO, Thiruvananthapuram - 695 035

Kerala, India

Tel: 0471-2300 333 / 2300 334

Cell: 98461 - 35003

eMail: thrani@...

To

Respected Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

Honorable President of India

Honorable President of India,

Your concern over the discrimination and stigmatization of two children in

Kerala is highly appreciable. We, at THRANI Center for Crisis Control, Kerala

have been working in the HIV/AIDS intervention, suicide prevention and mental

health promotion for the last five years.

The objective of this letter is to bring your kind attention regarding the

Plight of several HIV infected children in Kerala either orphaned or living With

single parent. Currently most of them are enrolled in regular schools.

Our main concerns are:

* What if other school managements follow the suit of Kaithakuzhy School?

* Then who can and who will protect these innocent victims?

* Can we turn a deaf ear to these out right violation of human rights?

Therefore, we humbly furnish the following based on our experience and facts

gathered from concerned individuals involved in this specific issue.

BACKGROUND

In 1991, Mr. Chandy Pillai Koshy was married to Ms. and was living in

Mumbai (Chandy's work place). Betty, Benzy and Benson were born to them in 1993,

1995 and 1997 respectively. Betty died of chronic diarrhea at the age of three

and a half years. In 1996, Chandy and family returned to their home place-

Kaithakuzhy, Chathannur in Kollam district of Kerala. In 1997 Chandy was taken

very ill and was diagnosed to have AIDS. He died shortly and it is alleged that

his seropositive status was communicated to his wife and her family only just

before his death.

Thereafter 's parents took charge of them against the wishes of Chandy

Pillai's family. had HIV test done in 1998 and her seropositive status made

the situation worse. Mr. Varghese ('s father) claims that they have spent

over Rs. 2,00,000/- including Rs. 24,000/- for Fair Pharma, Ernakulam just to

extent her life for few more years. In spite of all these measures

succumbed to death in 2000.

The early education of Benzy and Benson was at Kattachal Seventh Day Adventist's

School, which had to be discontinued due to financial constraints. After a

series of expulsions and enrollments from three other schools – namely Sugathan

Memorial School at Velichikala for 28 days, Punnakode School for a day and St.

English Medium School, Adichanallur for 2½ months – because of felt

stigma. In this context, Mr. Varghese appealed to Mr. Pratapavarma Thampan (the

local MLA of Chathannur constituency), to intervene. However his response was

derogatory. Considering the predicament of the children, Mr. Varghese approached

Mr. A. K. Antony, the Honorable Chief Minister of Kerala and this move was acted

upon immediately. Benson and Benzy were enrolled at nearby Government Lower

Primary School at Kaithakuzhy.

ACTUAL INCIDENT

Within a week, the parent-teachers association (PTA) of this school declare

d that 112 other parents are not going to send their children to the school

and requested transfer certificates. At this juncture, Kerala State AIDS Control

Society (KSACS) conducted awareness sessions for PTA. This in fact backfired as

people became more confused and fearful. Within a week there was total

boycotting of school except Benzy and Benson, which was followed by the Infamous

public meeting on March 4th 2003. In this gathering, the final verdict that

stamps upon the fundamental human rights of Benzy and Benson (right against

discrimination, right to education etc) was publicly declared by the words of

common people and by the silence and helpless attitude adopted by the

authorities. As a solution to this issue, the Government of Kerala announced

that these children would be schooled at home.

As observers, we are raising the following questions and concerns:

1. Isn't it high time for evaluating and modifying the approach, content and

process of HIV/AIDS awareness programmes promoted by Kerala State AIDS Control

Society?

2. Can the State of Kerala afford to offer home based education for all HIV

positive children?

3. What happens to the emotional and behavioral development of these children,

which is possible mainly through healthy social interactions with peers

in a school setting?

4. Isn't this home schooling a clear violation of their rights relating to life,

liberty, equality and dignity as the individual, guaranteed by the Indian

constitution and embodied in the international covenants?

5. Acquiring HIV infection, is it a crime, and AIDS victim, a criminal?

6. If lessening stigma and discrimination is our priority, do we ever pause

to think the implication of segregating HIV infected people, whether it be t

schools, health care centers, work place?

SUGGESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

* Anti-discrimination policy towards HIV/AIDS to be developed by the Govern

ment with immediate effect and is to be supported by Law.

* Policies to ensure that, HIV infected children to be enrolled in schools

just like any other children. HIV infection shall not be a factor in decisions

concerning class arrangements, privileges or participation in any school

sponsored activity.

* School based awareness sessions to highlight that there is no significant

risk of transmitting HIV infection to other children in the school setting

and to equip teachers and school authorities to ensure the safety and health of

all children.

* Protecting and safeguarding the employment and health care rights of people,

ensuring confidentiality and respect for human rights.

* Prevention programmes not to be based on fear, but to highlight developing a

non-judgmental attitude and to foster tolerance and social solidarity.

* Communication campaign in the media (print, audio and visual), challenging

popular myths and stereotypes and envisioning attitudinal change.

* Strategy to combat gender bias in HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination, as women

are more likely to be blamed even when they have been infected by their

husbands, leaving a terrible toll on them as mothers, as daughters, as care

givers and as people living with HIV/AIDS

Sir, with due respect we submit these facts before you with the hope and

expectation of a kind and favorable action.

Faithfully yours

(signed)

Vadakekara

26th March 2003

E-mamil thrani@...>

Copies to:

Ministers of Kerala & Other concerned individuals