The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : TNP+ launches State Women Forum

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 13, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

TNP+ launches State Women Forum

Staff Reporter

MANGALAGIRI (GUNTUR): Representatives of non governmental organisation, have decided to fight for rights of women suffering with HIV/AIDS, end the stigma and open new vistas of livelihood.

The State Women Forum launched by women under the aegis of Telugu Network of People Living with HIV-AIDS (TNP+) promises to address issues concerning women and find a solution within law.

“We will identify specific issues concerning property rights, discrimination in family, and issues relating to health care and try to find a solution with the involvement of law enforcing agencies. Specific training programmes would be designed to empower men,” chairperson of the forum Krishnaveni said.

The members of the forum took an oath on Tuesday on the Chiguru School for Street Children premises at Venkataipalem on the banks of river Krishna. The forum was the fist of its kind set up in the State.

Similar forums had been set up in Mizoram, Manipur, Tamil Nadu and Nagaland.

The forum would be part of the activities of TNP+, a non governmental organisation working with HIV affected persons in the State. Secretary of the organisation G. Jagadeesh said district forums would be set up in all the 23 districts and specific action plan would be drafted.

Girl saved

Some of the forum members had taken a lead by successfully taking up programmes. For instance, Jyotsna from Chittoor district had saved a girl of Rayapadu village from being lured into the trap of a HIV positive man from Nalgonda district. The marriage was called off just in time.

Girija from Nellore district said that she would take up the issue of providing quality medical care to the affected persons.

Providing employment training to young widows and working with socio-legal organisations to tackle property disputes were among the major issues that would be taken up by the forum, chairperson Krishnaveni said.

Project Manager of TNP+ Stanley Joseph said forum would try to improve the quality of life among the positive women and develop the skills to increase their chances of employment.

Women groups could draw strength from among them and could effectively handle pressing problems facing them, he added.

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