Mock Parliament (of students) on HIV/AIDS

November 3, 2004

As part of the Centre's commitment to HIV/AIDS prevention, a mock

parliament is being held on November 7 to educate legislators on the

subject.

The effort is spearheaded by Union minister Fernandes under the

aegis of the Parliamentary Forum on HIV/AIDS and Naco. It intends to

use youth leaders to sensitize legislators at the national, state and

district levels about HIV/AIDS and its prevention.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, former PM A.B. Vajpayee, Congress

president Gandhi and senior cabinet ministers will witness 543

student leaders go through Question Hero and Zero Hour on various

aspects of HIV/AIDS.

About 3,000 student leaders from all over the country will

participate. Of these, 543 have been handpicked to play

parliamentarians. A dozen MPs have been roped in to train the youth in

parliamentary procedure.

But the absence of MPs at this forum is worrying organizers. According

to a senior Congress leader, as against the expected attendance of 100

MPs, only 30 have confirmed that they will be able to attend the

two-day session. " Flying them in when Parliament is not in session is

always a difficult task, " he said.

The mock Parliament will follow proper parliamentary procedure. There

will be six standing committees and each will prepare a status paper

on one of the issues concerning HIV/AIDS.

At the end of the day, they will adopt a draft legislation that will

be presented to Union health minister A. Ramdoss.

The government is also determined to involve crucial ministries in the

effort against HIV/AIDS. The I & B; ministry intends to get private

channels to provide free airtime for messages on HIV/AIDS. I & B;

minister Jaipal Reddy has also said that Prasar Bharati will allot a

prime time slot to Naco for a daily soap on DD.

There is also a move to rework the education policy. Teachers training

will include HIV/AIDS education and the subject will also form part of

alternate education schemes for young people out of school.

(Hindustan times/Delhi edition/3 November 2004/page 7/story by Kumkum

Chadha)

___________________________

ICYO. Indian Committee of Youth Organizations (ICYO) 194-A, Arjun Nagar,

Safdarjang Enclave New Delhi 110029, India Phone: 91 9811729093 Phone/Fax: 91 11

26183978 Email: icyo@...

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