AIDS Discrimination in Kerala Bharat Gopi to undertake AIDS campaign

July 26, 2004

Suresh Gopi to undertake AIDS awareness campaign

Kozhikode, July 25 Pained over the plight of two HIV-positive tiny

tots admitted to an isolated classroom, superstar 'Bharat' Suresh

Gopi today agreed to visit their native Kottiyoor village in Kerala

to spread AIDS awareness among the people.

After handing over a cheque for Rs 15,000, collected by Global

Kerala Foundation (GKF), each to Akshara and her brother Ananthu at

a function here, the Malayalam film star readily consented to visit

the village on July 30 on a request from the panchayat chief.

Citing the decision of the Kottiyoor Sreenarayana Lower Primary

School to admit the kids, but in an isolated classroom to be taught

by a 'protected' teacher despite all out efforts by NGOs and media

campaign, Mr Gopi underlined the need for changing the mindset of

the people towards the dreaded disease.

Appreciating the initiative taken by the GKF which offered to help

25 such children, he said more and more organisations, including

governmental and non-governmental, should come up to aid the people

who were ostracised by the society out of fear.

He also hailed former Union Health Minister Sushma Swaraj for her

courage by mingling with AIDS patients at a function at Kollam in

Kerala a few months ago.

Narrating the problems faced by the kids and their HIV positive

mother Rema, Panchayat President K J ph said they were dying of

starvation as relatives and local people virtually isolated them out

of fear after their father died of AIDS.

Even certain people attempted to oust them from the village but the

situation changed after concerted efforts taken by a committee set

up to take up their cause, he added.

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