The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Vijayawada News : Bill on the anvil for AIDS patients' rights

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 24, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada

Bill on the anvil for AIDS patients' rights

By Our Staff Reporter

VIJAYAWADA, NOV. 23. A draft policy seeking protection, promotion and recognition of certain rights to the HIV/AIDS-affected persons is being readied to be tabled in the ensuing winter session of Parliament.

The Bill envisages right to equality, privacy, health, safe working environment, information, marriage and starting a family, autonomy and the right to work to the people affected with the dreaded virus.

Lawyers' initiative

With the Government confining its role to launching awareness campaigns, a Mumbai-based voluntary organisation, Lawyers' Collective, floated by advocates, has decided to extend free legal aid to the HIV/AIDS-affected persons.

The organisation has, for the first time, come up with a working draft on HIV/AIDS Bill 2004 incorporating the views of HIV/AIDS afflicted children.

"A draft law is already in place which is scheduled to be taken up in the winter session of Parliament," said Shalini Singh Deo, advocacy officer of the New Delhi branch of the Collective that is involved in legal, ethical and advocacy work for HIV/AIDS afflicted.

Children speak out

Shalini and Shehzad Mansuri, the legal officer of the main branch of the Collective in Mumbai, were in the city for an interactive session with nearly 40 children drawn from the coastal belt of the State, either afflicted with HIV\AIDS or hailing from affected households.

"The visit is an eye-opener. It brought into focus new issues. We had consulted various groups across the country regarding the draft law but never realised that kids too had a say. They are vocal about their needs, both physical and emotional," she explained.

The members were here on an invitation from B. Keerthi, technical support manager of the Vasavya Mahila Mandali, a local NGO involved in foster care of the HIV/AIDS-affected children.

To work n' study

Most children wanted to work to help their ailing parents and simultaneously pursue studies.

They suggested that formal schools be run in the evening also. Sensitisation of teachers, they said, was necessary while dealing with the affected kids.

Noticing that in many cases, kids whose parents succumbed to the virus were deprived of property rights, the Collective members decided to extend them legal assistance.

They also felt a dire need to persuade the affected parents to prepare the testament of will when they are alive.

Shalini and Shehzad said they would try to incorporate the views of the kids in the draft law before it is tabled in the Parliament session.

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