NEW DELHI: Women's groups across the country have raised doubts and demanded a thorough evaluation of the National Aids Control Organisation's (NACO) programme to contain HIV/AIDS.

In a statement, the Joint Action Front for Women, a conglomerate of several women's groups, has pointed out that the programme's high-risk targeted intervention approach was turning out to be a failure and not resulting in a mechanism that secured the rights of children and women involved in prostitution.

There was considerable evidence of increase in the HIV infection rates among the high-risk groups and an increase in the number of those commercially sexually exploited.

Hence, there was a need to broadbase the approach and include important aspects such as rescue, skill-building, rehabilitation and reintegration of vulnerable groups, the statement said.

Organised crime

``Although the objectives of the NACO and other agencies are good, the methodology of condom distribution through brothel owners and pimps is unintentionally strengthening the very roots of the organised crime that we want to uproot,'' coordinator of the Front Ranjana Kumari said in the statement.

``There is a need to revisit the strategy and to evolve a suitable methodology for curbing the menace of HIV/AIDS," she pointed out.

Women groups had met the Union Home Minister and were writing to all Ministries concerned on the issue. It had become an important issue, especially in the light of the fact that the NACO was in consultation with the World Bank and other partners to secure funds for the upscaled phase-III of the project, she said.

``We fully recognise and support the need for urgent and effective measures to contain the spread of HIV/AIDS. However, in the name of this health emergency, certain strategies that are being pushed are downright inimical to the human rights and human dignity of women and vulnerable men,'' the women's groups told the Home Minister.

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