New AIDS leadership in India

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

This is an update on the latest developments regarding the cabinet portfolio

allocation of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and how HIV/AIDS issues

may fare in the political agenda of the newly sworn in government.

Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) leader Anbumani Ramadoss is the new cabinet minister

for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. R Anbumani, an MBBS doctor, is a

debutant in the legislative field though his Pattali Makkal Katchi is a key ally

of the Congress. Though, Anbumani, 36, son of PMK chief S Ramadoss, is not a

member of either House of Parliament, he is likely to be elected to the Rajya

Sabha next month. Dr. Anbumani is closely associated with his father in party

functions and is organizing secretary of the party in Tamil Nadu. He studied

Economics at the London School of Economics. He also heads the Pasumai Thayagam,

a movement for the protection of greenery and environment.

AIDS leadership explicitly mentioned as part of common minimum program of the

new government.

The following is the brief excerpts from the draft of Common Minimum Programme

(CMP) circulated by the Congress to its allies and supporting parties: The

people of India have voted decisively in the 14th Lok Sabha election for

secular, progressive forces, for parties wedded to the welfare of farmers,

agricultural labour, weavers and weaker sections of society, for parties

irrevocably committed to the daily well-being of the common man across the

country.

In keeping with this mandate, the Congress, its pre-poll allies that include the

RJD, DMK, NC, PMK, TRS, JMM, LJP, MDMK, AIMIM, PDP, IUML, RPI (A) and KC (J) and

the Left parties have come together to form a United Progressive Alliance (UPA)

to run the central government for the next five years.

The UPA government is proposing six basic principles for governance. In the area

of health the UPA is proposing to raise public spending on health to at least

2% of GDP over the next five years with focus on primary health care. A national

scheme for health insurance for poor families will be introduced. The UPA will

step up public investment in programmes to control all communicable disease and

also provide leadership to the national AIDS control effort.

Two other Congress leaders Kapil Sibal and Fernades; who are sympathetic

to HIV/AIDS issues are also appointed as Ministers of State with independent

charges. Mr. Kapil Sibal is a senior advocate and Congress leader. Mr. Sibal

has a Masters in Law from Havard Law School. Mr. Fernandes is AICC

General Secretary, a five-term Lok Sabha MP from Udupi parliamentary

constituency in Karnatka.

Joe

Moderator

e FORUM

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

Convey our congratulations to new Health Minister. Hope with his background in

health sciences he will prove effective in interventions for prevention of

AIDS/HIV.

Dr. Trivedi

indian institute of development management

E-mail: [iidmbpl@...]

__________

This is probably the opportune moment to encourage the people concerned in the

leadership to steer the HIV/AIDS program in the right direction , so that it

doesn't get lost under the 'weight' of other priorities. I am sure there are

many in the network who know these people personally, and could play an

important role.

Best regards

Ravi Jayakaran

Kingdom of Cambodia

E-mail: [ravi_jayakaran@...]