Corporate Response to HIV/AIDS A Story from Techno Park, TRIVANDRUM

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CORPORATE RESPONSE TO HIV/AIDS: A REPLICABLE STORY FROM TECHNOPARK, TRIVANDRUM

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The Mainstreaming Division of KSACS is on right track in sensitizing

the corporate sector and attracting their resources to initiate

workplace interventions. The pilot effort made by Mainstreaming

Division with the Group of Techno Park Companies (GTECH), was such an

endeavor which produced positive responses, igniting the inspiration

for focused efforts with more companies in corporate sector.

This initiative was lead by the TEchincal Support Unit of KErala SACS managed

by APAC.

There is no doubt that HIV/AIDS has direct impact on a corporate

firm's productivity and profitability. If left unchecked, it can be a

cause for greater absenteeism and staff turnover, higher recruitment

and training costs, higher costs in medical care or insurance

coverage, retirement funds, etc.

A less obvious but equally important cost is declining morale and productivity

among employees. Human rights violation may also happen to the infected

employees in the work place due to the associated stigma and discrimination.

AIDS not only affects the health of workers; it also takes a toll on their

savings,resources of their families, and their productivity as they start

spending more time taking care of the sick. In India the Government or health

sector alone cannot prevent this scenario; they need support both in terms of

policy level and action level from the business sector. Now the situation looks

for bold actions from the business sector.

The adoption of an HIV/AIDS Policy for its member companies by G-TECH

with the catelistic involvement of Mainstreaming Division of KSACS is

such a bold initiative to save their human work force from the octopus

grip of HIV/AIDS.

GTECH, The Group of Technopark Companies, founded in 2000, represented by the

CEO’s of the companies in Technopark, is the

apex organization of companies in Technopark.

The GTECH mission is to promote the cause of the community of IT companies in

Kerala, with specific emphasis on the overall development of the State. Spread

over nearly 300 acres with 2.1 million sq. ft. of built-up space available

currently, Technopark hosts over 120 IT and ITES companies employing over 15,000

IT professionals.

The Policy proclaims their commitment to inculcate awareness of HIV/

AIDS at the deepest level among the member companies, their employees

and their families to prevent its occurrence. It ensures that members

do not discriminate against any employee with HIV/AIDS.

The policy offers their willingness to launch regular awareness programmes with

strong messages on HIV/AIDS in all the Government owned information Technology

Parks in the State. The policy expresses their readiness to collaborate with

KSACS and other concerned State level or National Level Government Institutions

to work for the prevention of HIV/AIDS.

The G-TECH companies are now active in HIV/AIDS awareness programmes.

They have incorporated a module on HIV/AIDS in their staff induction

training program. They are enthusiastically associating with the

voluntary blood donation programme on a regular basis and on

conducting education programmes on safe blood donation to their

employees.

They have linked the website of KSACS to the website of G-

Tech. They also readily associate with various HIV related campaigns

and observance of various days like World AIDS Day, World Blood

Donation day, etc.

The Mainstreaming Division maintains regular contact with the

executive committee of G-Tech in search of expanding the collaboration

to additional areas. This effort will certainly boost up the morale of

Mainstreaming Division to extend its efforts to more other corporate

institutions in the State. It will in turn help start more work place

interventions to prevent HIV in the corporate sector. It will also

serve our work force with sufficient messages and services on HIV and

its prevention.

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BEST PRACTICE DOCUMENTATION UNIT

IEC DIVISION, KERALA STATE AIDS CONTROL SOCIETY

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, KERALA

Management Support by:

Hindustan Latex Family Planning Promotion Trust (HLFPPT)

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Ajai Kerala SACS

e-mail: <ajai.ksacs@...>