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‘Aruna' shows the way to positive people

BERHAMPUR: Seventy HIV positive women of Ganjam district now dared to come out of their social cocoon to start earning for their livelihood.

These women are from Hinjli, Purushottampur, Aska, and Beguniapada blocks of Ganjam district. It may be noted that Ganjam is the most HIV infection prone area of the State and women are the worst victims.

These women have been benefited from a special project taken up by ‘Aruna-PLAN' for the rehabilitation of HIV positive women and children in the district. It may be noted that till now no major government project has come up for rehabilitation of these poor women of Ganjam district.

A beneficiary of this project from Purushottampur block, who gave birth to a girl child recently, said she can now hope to up bring her child. Under the project she was taught how to stitch ‘kantha', the blankets prepared from used textile pieces. She is confident to start her ‘kantha' production in next few weeks. “I had lost hope for myself and my child when I came to know about my HIV positive status but now with this income source I would surely try to provide a proper life to my child,” she said. Under this project, four women from Ranguni community of Hinjli block, who are from weaver community, have also got training to weave through which they are hopeful to start their own income from home. A woman from fisherman community from Aska block is now hopeful to earn a living by weaving fishing nets.

Secretary of Aruna, Lokanath Mishra said their aim was to make these almost ostracized poor women a livelihood source. Some have also got trained in vegetable cultivation and its marketing. Pandara community members of Hinjli area who are traditionally attached to vegetable cultivation and marketing played a major role in their training which is surely a welcome note, said Mr Mishra.

The project is envisioned to be extended to all the 22 blocks of the district in July. Some HIV positive adolescents above the age of 14 years are also being trained for their future livelihood under the project. At present 14 such adolescents are being trained in professional skills.

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