Chennai: “V-CAN”-A state level network of Community Based Organisations launched

[Guest guest]

V-CAN " -A state level network of Community Based Organisations launched

Chennai 16th December 2010:

Over 60 members of the transgender community (TG), Men who have sex with men

(MSM) and women involved in Sex work (FSW) representing various Community Based

Organisations from different parts of the state participated in the launch of a

state level Network of Community Based Organisations in Tamil Nadu known as

" V-CAN " (We, Community Action Network) in Chennai here today.

With the National Program on HIV prevention going on scale and for this purpose

forging strong partnership with the Community Based Organisations becomes

essential. The V-CAN network is seeking to provide the much needed leadership

from the ground.

As a network they would like to partner with the program support in reducing the

vulnerability to HIV within the community. And towards this objective, the

network will seek to monitor traditional and non traditional Condom outlets to

ensure the availability as well as accessibility of condoms by high risk groups.

This network is the first of its kind bringing 3 different communities together.

This state level network known as " V-CAN " consists of CBOs that have been

functioning for many years as well as CBOs that have been newly formed. This

serves also as a platform for learning and sharing from each other.

Participating in the launch of this network Ms. Salma, chairperson, Tamil Nadu

Social Welfare Board spoke about the efforts taken by the Government of Tamil

Nadu to improve the quality of lives of the community and Tamil Nadu is the

first state to initiate a separate welfare board for the transgender community

in the entire state.

She also mentioned that there are various schemes and services that are

available for the community which is currently being availed only by a few

number of them and such networks can help in reaching out to more number of

people.

The network is currently in the process of identifying Community Based

Organisations at the district level and those Community Based Organisations that

fulfil the criteria and incorporating them into the state level network.

Speaking about the importance of such a network Ms. Kajol, President, Social

Action for Emancipate said: " The transgender community have been able to

transform themselves over the years by using every opportunity to develop their

skills and talents.

Through this federation of CBOs, we will be reaching out to transgender from

different parts of the state will be able to benefit through these Government

Schemes.

Mr. Jaishankar, Udhayam CBO from Pudukottai said " MSMs who are mostly hidden

face a lot of violation from the society, unable to reveal their identity due to

fear of being ostracised. The community undergo a lot of human rights violation

which is never reported.

In spite of so much treatment and care services that are available today, the

fear of being discriminated prevents these communities from accessing it. This

network will help in reaching out to those hidden population, help them overcome

their fear and motivate them to access the existing services with confidence and

thereby reducing their vulnerability to HIV.

Ms. Vijayalakshmi, President, Villupuram Mavatta Pengal Marumalarchi Sangam

said, " Carrying the right information on HIV to the women in sex work and

motivating them to adopt health-seeking behaviour and motivating them to access

the clinical and care services has become vital.

To achieve this, it is equally essential to ensure that the level of violence

faced by the community be addressed. "

A 7 minute video captured the felt need of the community was also screened

during the programme.

Speaking about the programme Ms.Viji, Founder, Anbu Trust, Tuticorin said " We

have been preparing a profile of each CBO that has been identified so far we

will also be planning to incorporate new CBOs so that they are also reached out "

" 365x6, " a consortium – consisting of Praxis, CFAR and REACH – is facilitating

the formation of State Level Networks of Community Based Organisations of Men

having sex with men, Transgender and Female sex workers) in six HIV high

prevalence states namely Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra,

Manipur and Nagaland.

For more details contact ph,Project Director,365X6 @ 9790974554,

josephm@...

..........................................

Stanley ph

Manager-Advocacy

365X6 Network Project

PRAXIS

House no.11, Sanjeev Housing Society,

East Maredpally, Check post,

Mahindra Hills, Secunderabad.

Phone: 040 – 27730584/5

Mobile: +91-9444552655