Pension/Scholarship/Indira Awas for the Widows or family members of AIDS victims

[Guest guest]

Pension/Scholarship/Indira Awas for the Widows or family members of AIDS victims

There is a ray of hope for the widows whose husbands have been died of AIDS in

Orissa. The Health Minister Mr. Duryodhan Majhi has declared in the first

meeting of the State Council on AIDS that the widows would get pension in case

of the death of their husbands or head of family member in AIDS. There would be

age relaxation in this case.

After the meeting, the Health Minister said that more emphasis would be given

for the public awareness on HIV/AIDS. The Orissa State AIDS Control Society will

outreach to a larger number of population for massive awareness in collaboration

with the Department of School and Mass Education, Higher Education, Steel and

Minning, Industry, Panchayatiraj, Women and Child Development, Housing and Urban

Development etc.

One nodal officer would be appointed to carry out the campaign on HIV/AIDS in

respective Departments and relevant expenses will be incurred from the concerned

department only.

All the PRI representatives, ICDS workers, SHGs, elected representatives of

municipal corporations and staff would be actively involved in the campaign and

necessary training programmes will be organized for all of them. Awareness

Campaing will be organized for all the migrant labours staying in 95 slums of

Gujarat by using posters and audio-visuals. A group of officers will go to

Gujarat

for the campaign from Orissa.

Scholarship would be given to those children whose parents have been died of

AIDS or infected by HIV. Special Indira Awas would be provided to such families.

Debate Competition will be organized on HIV/AIDS in all colleges in every year.

The best ICDS workers for identifying maximum number of PLHAs would be awarded

by the State Government.

Free Condom will be distributed in all public toilets, Dhabas and red light

areas. Most of the migrant labours are being the victim of the epidemic in the

state. Currently 19 NGOs have been involved for the spreading awareness in

different parts of the state.

As per the estimate from January 2002-September 2007, 7372 persons have been

detected as HIV +ve after the screening of 2012446 blood samples in Orissa.

Currently 902 persons are in AIDS stage. 685 persons have already died of AIDS.

As per the research findings, 83% people are getting HIV through sexual route.

The Hindustan Latex Ltd has set up condom vending machine in Cuttack,

Bhubaneswar and Berhampur. Provision had been created to distribute adequate

condoms in Malisahi of Bhubaneswar city.

As per the survey in 2006, there is 0.2% people are infected by HIV. Ganjam

being the highest prevalent district of the state having 3.5% people with

HIV/AIDS. Orissa has been divided into three categories by taking into account

the HIV prevalence rate/vulnerability to HIV infection.

Ganjam, Anugul, Bolangir and Bhadrak districts are under Category “A”,

Balasore, Khurda, Koraput are coming under “B” and Boudh, Cuttack, Deogarh,

Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Kalahandi, Kendrapara and Keonjhar districts are falling

under Category “C”.

One Steering Committee would be formed in the state for the public awareness and

prevention of HIV. The Chief Secretary would be the Chairperson of the proposed

committee.

Courtesy: SAMBAD, Oriya Daily on 30th October 2007

__________________

Shashikant Mallick

e-mail: <Shashikant.Mallick@...>