BERHAMPUR: For the first time, People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) in Ganjam district have come out to fight for their basic rights which are allegedly denied to them due to social stigma.

Some 44 PLHAs from different parts of this most afflicted district of Orissa gathered at Gopalpur to form an organisation called Rushikulya Network of Positive People (RNPP) on Thursday.

Catalyst

ARUNA, a non-governmental organisation working for the rehabilitation of HIV positive persons, served as a catalyst for the formation of the organisation. Some 50 per cent of the members of RNPP were HIV positive women.

A seven-member committee led by its president Bhaskar Behera, which includes three women, would decide the future course of action of the Rushikulya Network of Positive People.

Memorandum

They prepared a memorandum, which would be handed over to the district administration seeking steps that guarantee "life, livelihood and honour."

Mr. Behera said PLHAs had been suffering silently. The members would now visit all the 22 blocks of the district to meet block-level administrative officials and PLHAs.

Secure benefits

They would try to make a coordinated effort to secure the benefits from government-sponsored projects like Antodaya, Kutir Jyoti, Indira Awas Yojana and self-employment schemes. "Time has come for PLHAs, especially women, to strive for their livelihood as they are being socially ostracised," said Mr. Behera.

Lokanath Mishra of ARUNA said PLHAs had to come out to solve the problems they faced. ARUNA's two-day capacity building workshop for PLHAs also concluded.

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