Railway Travel Concession for PLHAs

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

On behalf of Delhi Network of Positive People(DNP+) and the Love Life Society,

Human Rights Law Network filed a PIL petitioning the same travel concession to

HIV positive people as received by those suffering from other " chronic and

incurable " diseases.

The Government of India, through the Indian Railways, provide a discount of 75%

on the cost of tickets bought by those suffering from " chronic and incurable

" diseases. The diseases include tuberculosis, leprosy, cancer etc. Concessions

have also been provided to farmers, widows, defense personnel etc but not to

PLHAs.

In a significant order on 19th october, the Delhi high Court asked an

explanation of the Railways as to why fare concession could not be provided to

the PHLAs traveling for treatment, on the same basis as the benefit extended to

cancer patients.

The division Bench directed the Railway Board Chairman to convene a meeting with

the Health Ministry and take a decision over the issue. Further, they were asked

to investigate the possibility of extending the railway concession to

PHLAs tarvelling to various hospitals, located in different places in the

country, for their treatment.

Thankyou

Regards,

Human Rights Law Network,

576 Majid Road,

Jungpura

New Delhi.

e-mail: <hri.delhi@...>

[Guest guest]

Dear all,

This is indeed a great initiative taken up by the Human Rights Law Network.The

same should be also applies to travelling by plane. In many North Easter States,

air travel is not a luxury but a life line.

PLHAs are being deprived of their rights in terms of accessing health

care services,education,employment and even inheritance of property rights.

People living with HIV/AIDS should be equally treated with other general

populations, they should not be label or branded as " a

disease of IDUs/MSM/Sex worker " .

But, my concern at this critical time is " how long it will take to endorse the

new proposal? " We need to put an extra effort to push

the decision makers to make it possible at the earliest.

Regards

Ishwarchandra Haobam

Regional Focal Point- South Asia

Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS,

Project Coordinator,

Social Awareness Service Organization,

IDUs Project

Phone:91-0385-2411408

Fax: 91-0385-2411409

Mobile:91-9856136300

Email:ishwarchandra@.../ishwar.haobam@...

www.youthaidscoalition.org