Experience of Bengal Network for People Living With HIV/AIDS (BNP+)

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum,

We are the members Bengal Network for People Living With HIV/AIDS (BNP+) work

for and with the PLWHA, throughout West Bengal. BNP+ is affiliated by Indian

Network for People Living With HIV/AIDS (INP+) and supported by West Bengal

State Aids Prevention And Control Society WBSACS.

BNP+ is a round-o-clock service providing organization for the PLWHA. So we use

to go every corner of the state where any PLWHA friend requires any Kind of

help.

Incidentally we received a phone call from Dasnagar on 1st July2005 at 10.00pm

while an HIV+ person was getting very sick who needed to be admitted in the

hospital immediately.

Three members of BNP+ immediately taken the decision to go to Dasnagar and hired

a taxi from Hatibagan, Kolkata. After reaching at Howrah station the taxi driver

denied to go to Dasnagar and forced our members to get down from the taxi and

demanded for the fare, then two members of BNP+, Ms. Nisha Roy and Mr. Jibon

Brahmo, requested the Taxi driver to reach them Dasnagar. The Taxi driver stiked

on his word that he would not go to Dasnagar, though he was agreed to go to the

said placed.

The argument amongst the members and driver was occurring near by a Police camp,

from the camp the Policeman named Mr. G. Sen listened all the facts, from Nisha

and Jibon. Nisha and Jibon requested to the Policeman for help but this is

really astonish that the Policeman didn’t care their word, and he supported the

taxi driver, and advised them to pay the taxi fare.

Nisha protested him, but Mr. Sen was not ready to listen any word from them.

Suddenly he called the SI of Golabari P.S. over telephone. Mr. Manirul Islam,

the SI of Golabari P.S. reached at that place with his force, He also supported

the taxi driver and Mr. G.Sen. In the mean time when the conversation was going

on suddenly our one member Jibon was attacked by the taxi drivers, but the

police men of Police booth did not take any step against them, on the other

side the Police Jeep driver revoked to the superior to lock them in the custody.

Then our members were taken to the Police camp and insisted to pay fare to the

Taxi driver, and threaten them to stop the matter.

Similarly Jibon Brahmo didn’t get a glass of water as he opened his status due

to stigma and discrimination.

Ultimately, which was happened that the members, paid the taxi fare and could

not reach at Dasnagar and it was very sad that the Patient was died at that

night, we remained helpless and could do nothing at his last moment.

Who are the responsible for the incident?

When in one hand the State and Central Govt. provide all type of support to the

PLWHA and requesting to every citizen especially to the Govt. staffs to

cooperate with this socially stigmatized community (PLWHA), but the real fact

was the PLHA getting the misbehavior and mental torture even from the Govt’s

most influential administrative department. This is true that we the PLWHA

community is facing the stigma and nonco-operation from the society every

moment.

We already submitted this report to WBSACS and to the Police Super of Howrah

District. They said the will definitely look after this matter.We want justice

from the Government.

With regards.

Tarit Chakroborty

(President BNP+)

Mobile :- 09830685270

E-mail: <tarit_chakraborty2004@...>