Over 600 HIV+ people come together in Surat to find a match; 13 attend virtually from abroad

Over 600 HIV infected people looking for a match from different walks of life came together in Surat on Monday for the 13th edition of matchmaking event organised by the Gujarat State Network of People (GSNP). Of these, 13 attended the event virtually from other countries, including Canada, Australia, and Dubai in a first. This year also saw a new record with the highest number of participants, said the organisers.

Giving more details, GSNP president Daxa Patel said, “We started this matchmaking event in 2003. Till date, over 423 people have got married. This year, we found the highest number of participants and for the first time, we have got overseas participants. At today’s event, eight marriages were fixed while 50 candidates expressed interest in tying the knot. We are also taking extra care to keep the identity of the participants hidden.”

The candidates were from different walks of life, she added. There were doctors, engineers, builders, businessmen, IT professionals among others.

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“There were candidates who were earning Rs 1 crore per annum, and an army jawan. Participants from Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, MP, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Delhi attended the event,” the GSNP president said.

Patel further added, “Once the men or women like the candidates, we organise their meetings at spot and we take their details. Now these candidates will talk to their family members. We will coordinate with their families, and after both parties agree, we will later allow both of them to meet personally and get final recognition of getting married.”