NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday asked all the Central Ministries to make budgetary allocations for AIDS awareness campaigns.

Chairing the first meeting of the National Council on AIDS here, Dr. Singh asked the Cabinet Ministers — all of whom are members of the Council — to contribute their mite for creating awareness against the disease.

He suggested creation of a smaller working group, headed by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry, to coordinate with the other Ministries, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Anbumani Ramadoss told reporters after the meeting.

Message on bills

Almost all Ministers agreed to carry an AIDS message on their official documents. The Telecommunication Ministry will carry the message on the bills, the Department of Posts will issue a Rs. 5 stamp that would be sold for Rs. 4.75 only for greater reach, and the Railways Ministry will give free space at the 7,000 stations to put up hoarding and condom-vending machines. The Confederation of Indian Industry has agreed to issue Health Cards to all AIDS patients so that they can get treatment anywhere in the country.

Red Ribbon Express

The Red Ribbon Express — a special seven-coach train — would run across the country to spread awareness on AIDS. The coaches will carry exhibitions, testing facilities, space for carrying out interactive sessions and even ferry youths who would then reach the rural areas with the messages. While the States agreed to step up their efforts in providing AIDS testing and treatment facilities, there was a greater demand for condom-vending machines.

"We will now sit with the Ministries and work out modalities for the campaign," Dr. Ramadoss said. In the two-hour long meeting, Dr. Singh also interacted with AIDS-affected children from Tamil Nadu. On its part, the Health Ministry will integrate AIDS control programme into its National Rural Health Mission and announce the National Aids Control Programme-III shortly.

The National Council on AIDS is the world's only council on AIDS to be headed by a Prime Minister. All Cabinet Ministers, seven Chief Ministers and several State Health Ministers, besides private stakeholders are its members.

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