Re: The Kerala State AIDS Control Society (KSACS) PR exercise

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum,

Re: /message/9194

This referes to the posting The Kerala State AIDS Control Society (KSACS) PR

exercise of reserving job for People living with HIV. This mail made me to think

more facts about Kerala and its situation about HIV/AIDS

KSACS's plan to give reservation for the PLWHAs, will this help to bring few

PLWHAS to the mainstream. But what about the majority?

Still stigma and Discrimination is prevailing in Kerala. Why People are not

coming for testing? RED RIBBON Express identified number of cases through its

testing center. It also heard that around 500 VIPs are carriers of HIV in

Cochin.

One Teen age Girl died due to AIDS in Kerala, which she got from the sex

racket.  Phone sex, sex Racket, Child abuse etc increased in Gods own Country.

It is the time for the policy makers to think.

In this situation I believe that KSACS have to put more effort to sensitize the

community about HIV, Safe Sex and Life skill Education.

It should also conduct campaign against stigma and discrimination, and should

focus on sex education in schools and colleges. Now as per KSACS report around

25000 PLWHAs are there as reported cases.

If we take in account of the Malayalees who are away from Kerala and non

reported cases the Number may increase. In this situation the task is high.

What Forum thinks? More suggestions, talks are welcoming.

Arun Menon

e-mail: <arunmph@...>

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum,

The recent advertisement for the post of GIPA coordinator has once again raised

a few interesting issues.

/message/9206

At the outset, I would like to clarify that it is not my intention to reopen the

rather spirited debate held in the forum about the advisability of reserving

this job for PLWHA.

Instead I would like to focus on other inclusion criteria:

Firstly it calls for the post holder to be a graduate with three years of HIV

related experience, thus narrowing avenues and eliminating most PLWHA.

 

Secondly, it asks for the applicant not to a member of any network, thus laying

arbitrary limits on personal choice and denying the post holder the benefit and

freedom of association. Would membership of INP+  exclude a person? Would

membership of AIDs-INDIA exclude a person? The advert does not say. The advert

also does not say why this should be so. Does anyone know?

 

Arun in his comments has suggested that job reservation for PLWHA may not be

the best way forward,  instead education and sensitisation at all levels would

be better.

Given the complexity and contentiousness of the recruitment process it is worth

a think.

Dr Deepak Batura

e-mail: <d_batura@...>