Re: Who will help an Australian agency to help/ Indian village boycotts

[Guest guest]

Dear Mr. Haill & Forum Members,

Deccan Herald on Thursday 26 August, 2004 featured two women who were victims

of a social boycott by a community engulfed with the fear of HIV/AIDS .The two

women Bhanot Samakka and Bukhya Vimala residents of a tribal hamlet in Warangal

–a district in Andhra Pradesh. These two women extended their helping hand to

Bukhya Sharada who confided to them her positive status. The panchayat decreed

that the two women should not enter the village .Representations made on behalf

of the women by a few community groups did not deter the decision of the

panchayat.

This piece of information featured in a circulation by AIDS INDIA e FORUM.

In response to which Mr. Haill from The Australian AIDS Fund Inc,

Melbourne, Australia requested a follow-up on the part of any organisation

willing to look into this matter.

Dr. Ashok Rau, Executive Trustee/CEO of the Freedom Foundation-India promptly

replied to the request and directed the Foundation's Hyderabad unit to address

this issue. The Freedom Foundation's Hyderabad unit immediately got in touch

with the principal correspondent of Deccan Herald for further information on the

concerned issues.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) was appraised of this whole

issue. NHRC immediately contacted the Collector and the local Police station to

revoke the injustice met to the three women. Follow up orders were given to

ensure that the positive woman was cared for and the other two be reintegrated

into the community and subsequently reinstated into their respective jobs.

However, the positive woman who had delivered the baby was not traceable. Of the

other two, Sammakka the cook with the school had been re -instated, while Vimala

a health worker at the, Anganwadi centres in the hamlet was not re- employed.

Nevertheless both these women have been permitted to stay in the village. The

Freedom Foundation will now be providing on going support to all, and will

address the needs of care and support for the affected individuals including

the baby.

The Freedom Foundation's units in Andhra Pradesh will be doing a series of

sensitization programmes for the various law enforcement agencies and the

community at the villages of Warangal District. The Freedom Foundation & NHRC

will continue to oversee this case on a regular basis.

The Freedom Foundation and all concerned would like to thank Mr. Haill for

raising his concerns and for offering his support. We will be in touch with Mr.

Haill Regards

Dr. Troy Cunningham

Freedom Foundation - Hyderabad

E-mail <freedomfoundation1@...>