The Hindu : New Delhi News : Experts look into risky practices of homosexuality

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 21, 2007
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New Delhi

Experts look into risky practices of homosexuality

Special Correspondent

“Social stigma attached to these practices has made accessing such people difficult”

1.3 lakh of the 6.5 lakh such people in Rajasthan identified as a high-risk group
Participants apprised of action plans implemented at grassroots to fight HIV/AIDS

JAIPUR: A dissemination workshop on HIV and AIDS care and prevention programme for the rural and tribal youth here has identified 1.3 lakh of the 6.5 lakh people reportedly practicing homosexuality in Rajasthan as a high-risk group, while noting that the targeted intervention was covering less than one per cent of the homosexuals and eunuchs.

Experts attending the workshop, organised by Oxfam, an international funding body, and non-government organisation Vihaan, said the social stigma attached to unnatural sexual practices had made homosexuals and eunuchs “hidden and difficult to access”. Since their spouses and sexual partners are vulnerable to HIV infection, an extra attention to them is a public health necessity.

Public Health Director M.L. Jain said the prevalence of HIV infection among homosexuals and eunuchs, unless controlled immediately, would take away a major chunk of the budgetary allocation for the health sector.

The participants said a preliminary mapping of homosexuals and eunuchs carried out by the Rajasthan AIDS Control Society in 2005 should be validated to properly assess their sexual health needs and facilitate implementation of targeted programmes.

Vihaan coordinator Kumkum Srivastava, throwing light on a project executed with the support of European Union in Bharatpur and Chittaurgarh districts said, training programmes were organised for 14,000 elected representatives of Panchayati Raj and Government officials to make them sensitive to the needs of AIDS patients.

Rajiv Dua of Oxfam said the mass communication campaigns launched among sex workers, youngsters consuming drugs and vulnerable sections such as truck drivers and migrant labourers had started showing positive results in terms of an increase in awareness. Some of the speakers pointed out that early sexual initiation was common in rural areas in the State because of marriage at a young age. They suggested that the projects for capacity-building through income generation for the HIV infected sections could make a significant contribution to their empowerment.

The participants were apprised of the action plans implemented at the grassroots and experiences of activists working among the HIV infected people. An exhibition of relevant publications and photographs was also organised on the occasion.

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