Orissa: AIDS patients reluctant to receive pension; fear social boycott

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AIDS patients reluctant to receive pension; fear social boycott

31 May:Several people suffering from HIV/AIDS in Orissa’s Kendrapara district

are staying away from receiving pension provided by the government fearing their

social alienation.

" Fear of getting identified and subsequent social alienation have forced the

HIV-positive people and AIDS patients to stay away from the pension plan in the

district, " officials said.

Named after ‘Madhubabu’, a prominent nationalist Oriya leader, Orissa government

had declared a monthly pension of Rs 200 to the AIDS patients and HIV-affected

people on 1st April.

Kendrapara Collector Kashinath Sahu said " 195 HIV-positive people were brought

under the pension scheme as part of social security mission to rehabilitate

them. "

" The beneficiaries are reluctant to receive the pension money in cheque, " Sahu

said.If the civil society activists are to be believed, the beneficiaries think

it prudent to skip the money rather than being identified and ostracised.

As a result, the pension scheme has failed to take off Kendrapara. With poor

awareness of the sensitivity attached with HIV status of a person, the

Block-level government officials fail to maintain the confidentially and make

the names of beneficiaries public, said Block Officials.Courtsey : DD NEWS

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