Re: Request support: Harassment against PLHIV in Jeypore Block , Koraput dist Orissa

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum,

Re: /message/7073

This is in continuation with the case which was sent to e-forum on 24th March.

This PLHIV was detected as HIV reactive last year. Her

husband died in January 2007 and she lives with her two years old son. Her

in-laws stay a few houses away. Since the death of her husband some boys in the

locality have began misbehaving with her (passing remarks etc). She was running

a small grocery shop in the locality and earning Rs. 25/- per day.

The community knows the status of the women because it was published in the

local news paper (Sambad) in the first week of January, which contained her

photograph and real name.

The community feels that the boys of the area may get involved with her. Hence,

they are trying very hard to evict her by claiming that her character is not

good.

On 24th march, 2007, the community decided to hold a panchayat meeting to evict

her from the village.

Developments: The panchayat meeting didnot happened on 24th march, 2007 and the

following day, the villager asked her to call for the meeting to prove her

innocence. But she refused saying that she didnot want any problems.

Now the villagers are threatning the mother-in-law to call the meeting.

Otherwise, she will not get any assistance from the villagers. At present her

grocery shop is not running at all and she earns nothing. Over and above due to

the mental stress she is unable to eat well. Now, she needs some support. And

she lives a life of uncertainity not knowing what will happen tomorrow.

Regards

Santosh Kumar

e-mail: <kumarpositive@...>

Contact details of Orissa SACS

Sri Mayadhar Panigrahi, IAS

Orissa State AIDS Control Society,

Oil Orissa Building , Nayapalli,

Bhubaneshwar, Orissa

Tel; Office 0674- 2405134, 0674- 2405104-06

Tel; Residence: 0674- 2401645

Fax: 0674- 2407560, 0674- 2405105

E-mail: sacs_orissa@...

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

Re: /message/7073

Orissa SACS,PSU and the NGO partners may please organize immediate joint meeting

with the village Sarpanch and community leaders (UNDP-Orissa a major partner in

AIDS control activities may facilitate the

visit and interactions)to impress upon them that there is no danger whatsoever

in all types of social interactions with the lady who needs psycho-social

support and not ostracization at this juncture of her

life.

All the people going together to the village will have a positive and effective

impact on the way some of the people in the village are thinking.

The mere presence of government functionaries,senior officials and NGOs with

good credibility and rapport with the local community may do wonders in

obviating such an unwarranted and discriminatory geasture which is wrong from

all points of views.

Please do take it up on a priority.

Best wishes,

Dr.Rajesh Gopal.

E-MAIL: <dr_rajeshg@...>