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An expedition to help AIDS victims

PUDUCHERRY: “Our organisation has decided to embark on this month-long cycle expedition from Puducherry to New Delhi to create public awareness of AIDS, as part of our sustained efforts to achieve something big through our service to society”— thus avers president of Mahatma Gandhi Makkal Pani Iyakkam, C. Imayavan.

Shortly before launching the tour, Mr. Imayavan said four of its members, K.P. Ilango, E. Ezhilan, S. Selvan and K. Balamurugan, would be covering several villages and towns along the 2,800-km journey through Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh before reaching New Delhi. The Ariyankuppam-based organisation was founded a couple of years ago to serve the people in all possible ways, he said adding that its 30-odd members had been helping the commune panchayat in clearing garbage in the area. Most of its members were construction workers, farmhands and auto-rickshaw drivers, he said.

As HIV/AIDS had been posing immense medical and social problems, the Iyakkam also wanted to help the administration in creating public awareness in different parts of the country, Mr. Imayavan said. The inclement weather prevailing in the northern States had not dampened the spirits of the youth to undertake the mission. “We know it is a tough challenge. But the four volunteers are equipped with woollen blankets and medicine to beat the biting cold,” he said. Each of the four bicycles was fitted with a signboard which screamed: “Destroy AIDS, help AIDS patients!”

The volunteers would have a break after covering every 100 km along the route. They would stay at the nearest police station during nights before commencing their ‘yatra’ the next day, Mr. Imayavan said.

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