BANGALORE: The State police is formulating a workplace policy to address issues concerning personnel affected by HIV and AIDS.

Additional Director-General of Police (Recruitment and Training) S.T. Ramesh said on Thursday that the objective was to not only sensitise policemen, but also lay down guidelines to deal with issues related to those were found HIV-positive during their service or at the time of joining the force.

Participating in a discussion on "HIV/AIDS and India: situation and response with reference to uniformed forces," Mr. Ramesh said his office was working with a group that included police officers and organisations such as UNAIDS and the Bill Gates Foundation. The policy would be ready in three months. "It will be put on our website to help other States make use of it," he said.

Mr. Ramesh said the workplace policy would lay down guidelines on maintenance of privacy and confidentiality of medical reports and implementation of rehabilitation programmes for those affected. It would reassure employees and applicants that no adverse action would be taken against them on the basis of medical reports, he added.

The State police took up the task in view of the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the State, Mr. Ramesh said. Policemen were susceptible to HIV/AIDS as they come in contact with infected blood during investigations of murders and accidents, he added.

Training

He said his department was training selected police personnel in districts, who would organise programmes to create awareness of HIV/AIDS among policemen. They had come up with a guide for trainers and resource personnel involved in awareness programmes. HIV/AIDS awareness was part of the curriculum at the State Police Training Academy. A handbook on the epidemic was being given to the trainees, he said.

Ranjan Diwedi of UNAIDS made a presentation on "HIV/AIDS and India: situation and response with reference to uniformed forces".

Survey

He said a paramilitary organisation had found that 168 personnel had been affected by HIV/AIDS, and 95 had died. A survey showed that awareness of the virus and the disease was low among Army personnel, he added.

Mr. Diwedi said no survey of the prevalence of the epidemic in the police force had been carried out. The police should take immediate steps to create awareness among personnel and reduce their vulnerability, he suggested.

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