Sangli, Maharashtra: Forty HIV+ students barred from School

[Guest guest]

Price of prejudice: HIV+ kids barred from school

Saturday, June 16, 2007 (Sangli)

After HIV+ students in Kerala were denied entry to their school, a similar report has surfaced from Maharashtra. Forty HIV+ students are paying the price of prejudice in their school, barred by anxious parents from coming to school.The children are locked in a separate classroom and are allowed into the school just once each year- to give their annual exams.''One day a school teacher sent us out of the school and told us we would be allowed inside only for exams and that I should not come otherwise,'' said a student.The 40 children, 8 boys and 32 girls, all between the ages of 3 and 12, are orphans of HIV patients. ''I want to go to school. But they don't let us study in school or play with the others. I want to become a doctor. They only allow us into the school for the exams,'' said another student.For the past two years, they have had to make do with classes run by their orphanage, partly paid for from a state grant of Rs 900 per child per month.The NGO that cares for them wants to construct a special school for them and others like them and is waiting for the government's clearance.''We are not accusing anyone of anything. We just want to ensure that the adverse effect on the kids is reduced and they can be like other children. We had asked for permission to start a school two years back but we have not heard from the government yet,'' said Naseema Sheikh, Secretary, Baghini Nivedita.When contacted, the school officials refused to go on camera but say its because parents of other students don't want their children to interact with the HIV+ children.When NDTV approached local officials, they claimed they were yet to hear of the matter. ''We will get all the information on this school and try and do what we can to these children to ensure they are treated at par with others,'' said M D Patil, Zilla Education Officer.While the state gets its act together, these children will have to wait their turn to study and play like normal children.http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070015683 & ch=6/16/2007%208:39:00%20AM

[Guest guest]

HIV+ kids readmitted to school

Re: /message/7411

NDTV Correspondent, Monday, June 18, 2007 (Sangli)

On Friday NDTV carried a story on how 40 HIV+ children were barred

entry to a zilla parishad run school in Yashvantpur area of Sangli in

Maharashtra. As a result, on Monday the local education officer took

the children to the school and got them re-admitted.

For the past two years the students have been allowed into the school

only to appear for exams and even then they would be confined to a

single room.

http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?

id=NEWEN20070015929 & ch=6/18/2007%208:33:00%20PM