Chennai: Threat of eviction of PLHAs

[Guest guest]

Sub : Threat of eviction of PLHAs

Selvi Memorial Illam Society (SMIS) is an organization formed and managed by a

team of positive women, operational from the year 2000 and addresses the needs

of those infected with and affected by HIV. SMIS is founded by Ms.

(alias) Meera.

This organization has initiated a short-stay facility in January 2004 to provide

safe shelter and hygienic food with health education, counselling and referral

services with easy access, specially for the families of T.B and HIV patients

admitted at the Govt. Institute of Thoracic Medicine, Tambaram. Approximately

7,000 patients and family members from the entire Southern region and places as

far away as

Orissa have benefited by using this facility.

The residents (living close to the SMIS facility) comprising well educated and

informed persons, along with the local councilor, Mr. Sridharan have threatened

and hit the staff ( the security Guard) who works at the center on the 30th of

January 2007. They also broke into the facility and damaged the TV connection

and threw the chairs, threatened the residents , people infected and affected by

HIV at the center to vacate the short stay facility immediately. They have sent

back prospective residents who approached SMIS for services on the same day.This

group of local residents have lodged a false complaint against the centre and

the staff.

SMIS founder Ms. , has filed a complaint on the same day against the

atrocities caused by the local residents. The following day, Media people from

Deccan Chronicle and Thina Malar met with Ms. and the residents and

have flashed the news (copies attached) on 31st January 2007. It is alleged that

the residents think that illegal activities are going on at SMIS center and the

center creates health hazards to the local residents. During the inspection by

the police on the 30th of January, 2007 the center was found to be well

maintained and it was not found to cause disturbance or any specific health

hazard to the locals. On 31st

January 2007, around 3.00 p.m. four men claiming to be municipality workers

broke open the drainage outlet and questioned about the water flowing outside.

Ms. shared that they had broken it open, sealed the outlet and threatened

that action will be taken against SMIS for this. Ms. has requested for a

written order in this regard which they did not provide.

Our opinion is that all these incidents have been pre-planned by the local

residents in order to disrupt the function of SMIS and evict us from this place,

based on the following reasons:

Attacking the center, hitting the security guard and threatening the residents

in the absence of Ms. .

The man who was housed at SMIS without a slip from the hospital a few hours

earlier appeared at the police station to give witness against SMIS.

Creating a scene by breaking open the drainage connection and

allowing the water to flow out as it would be proof to being hazardous to the

environment.

Blocking the drain and plastering it again to show that they have

done something to control it.

The local residents sitting passively outside their houses and

watching the Center and disturbing the people at the center.

The Councillor abusing the residents and the staff and calling Ms.

to come out of the center.

It has been our endeavour at SMIS to provide services to the needy who are

struggling to get hygienic food and safe shelter which is the very basic need of

any human being. We also understand the needs of the local residents and our

responsibility to maintain an hygienic and safe environment for the local

residents and SMIS residents as any lapse in this would cause more damage to the

residents than it does to the local residents.

We appeal to the Government and officials, NGO fraternity, Positive networks and

the like-minded to help us through your valuable support to advocate against

stigma and discrimination in relation to People Living with HIV / AIDS (PLHA)

and to ensure that in future if a family is infected or affected by HIV among

the local residents, they will not be Stigmatized or Discriminated or evicted

from the place where their roots are.

We look forward to your timely response and action to address this issue

effectively in order to restore the rights of People Living with HIV / AIDS

(PLHA) and enable a safe environment for the care-givers.

Thanking you,

Yours truly,

Founder Director

Forwarded by Indhu S, Chennai

Ms. Indhu Sudhakaran, Consultant, Chennai

e-mail: indhu27770@...

All inquiries to: siaapindia_projects @, selvi_mary@...