States, has yet to give response on HIV/AIDS draft Bill

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States, UTs yet to give response on HIV/AIDS draft Bill

New Delhi, Feb 5. (PTI): For people facing stigma and discrimination

due to their HIV status, relief seems a bit far off as the National

AIDS Control Organisation's letter seeking comments on the HIV/AIDS

draft Bill from all the States, UTs and two key Ministries have

hardly got any response.

" We have written to all the States and UTs for their comments on the

HIV/AIDS draft Bill. We are hopeful that we will be able to push the

Bill before the Parliament breaks for recess, " Sujatha Rao, Director

General of NACO, told PTI.

However, sources said though the letters were sent by NACO to all the

States and UTs in the first week of January, till February 3 they

have received a response from only UT Dadar and Nagar Haveli.

" We haven't received any response from the States, who fall in the

high-risk or vulnerable category list, " an official said.

" We have also written to the Ministry of Women and Child Development

and the Ministry of Home Affairs. But we haven't received any

comments from them. The deadline for sending the comments is February

10, " said the official.

Now, NACO is planning to send a reminder, asking them to speed up

their responses to meet the deadline.

There are 5.2 million people in the age group of 15-49 years who are

living with the infection and the main thrust of the Bill is to

prevent discrimination of these people at workplace and educational

institutions and see that they are not denied healthcare facilities.

The NACO officer said if they don't receive any comments from the

States, UTs and the departments, they would have no choice but to

assume that they agree with the provisions of the Bill.

" We can't wait for ever for their responses. We don't want to send

them reminders again and again. If we don't get any responses we will

consider that they are in agreement with all the provisions, " he

said.

" And if we get their responses, we would modify them accordingly and

send it to the Law Ministry, which will vet it and then send it to

the cabinet for clearance, " he said.

Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss had announced the Bill will be

introduced in the Budget Session of the Parliament.

The officer said for a Bill to become law takes a long time, but they

are hopeful that the Bill would be placed before the Parliament

during the budget session.

According to Akhila Sivadas, Director of Center for Advocacy and

Research, the bill would be a definite help as it will provide legal

platform to people to raise complaints.

" It will be a certain help as it will give a legal framework to raise

complaints against such practices and fix responsibilities and create

accountability, " she said, adding that there have been many cases

where HIV-positive people have committed suicide after their status

have become known.

She said in Kerala, in two instances schools have banned children

with HIV to attend classes. " I believe that the State understand the

enormity of the situation, but are not able to respond to NACO as

they are not sure how they will be able to implement the provisions

of the bill. "

" We have to see whether the system would be able to respond to the

grievances, " Sivadas said.

The Bill would mean access to comprehensive HIV-related treatment

including diagnostics, ARVs, nutritional supplements and also health

insurance and social security schemes for HIV-positive people.

The Bill places restrictions on discriminatory practices at

workplaces and educational institutions, including unjustified denial

of or termination from employment, unfair treatment, denial or

discontinuation of healthcare services and has provision for

punishment, including imprisonment and fine for violation of the

rights of the people living with HIV/AIDS.

It would provide formation of National AIDS Authority at the Central,

State and District levels.

The Bill also talks about standardisation and regulation of testing

and treatment schedules in the public and private sectors and

implementation of prevention strategies.

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