Chennai : As the HIV/AIDS Bill continues to be pending with the government, members of Tamil Nadu’s HIV-infected community gathered today demanding the tabling of HIV/AIDS Bill as the Parliament reconvenes in the first week of February. The HIV/AIDS Bill, which aims to protect the rights of people infected and affected by HIV, has been pending with the government since 2006. NGOs, HIV- affected and members of the civil society working towards getting the Bill tabled were speaking to the media at a press conference convened at the Press Club on Monday.
The Bill provides for protection of HIV positive people from stigma and discrimination both in public and private sector, There have been instances of people living with HIV being denied jobs, education and treatment because of their HIV status. According to the Selvam of the Chennai Network of Positive People, “We are very disappointed by the Bill not getting tabled during the winter session. We feel that we have been let down by the government and the parliamentarians of this country.” The bill also contains provisions for free and full treatment for every HIV-positive person who needs it.
The process of the Bill was finalized by the government in 2006. More than seven years have passed, but the Bill has not been tabled in the Parliament. Though it was sent to the Law Ministry in 2007, it was only in October 2013 that the Law Ministry cleared the Bill. On 5 December 2013, Bill was cleared by the Union Cabinet. According to Daisy David of the World Vision, “The Bill was listed to be tabled during the winter session. However, that couldn’t happen as the parliament was adjourned two days before schedule”.
The community pins their hopes on the parliament when it meets one last time before the general elections, in February. However, if the government fails to table the HIV/AIDS Bill during the session in February, the present Bill will lapse and the crusade for the HIV/AIDS Bill will go back by many years.
Source : B.Madhusudhanan