HIV positive boy,sister not allowed into Allahabad school

The school readmitted the two children on Monday following the instruction of District Magistrate Rajeev Agrawal. But the villagers turned down the administration’s request to allow the boy to attend the school. The boy was called in the school campus by the BSA but he could not attend class.

Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA) Brijesh Mishra visited the school on Monday and held a meeting with the villagers. The district magistrate also sent a team of counsellors and teachers to convince the villagers but they refused to relent.

“When the uncle of the child prefers to keep his distance at home,how could you expect us to allow him play and study with our children,” said Ram Khelawan,a local. Mishra has requested district magistrate Rajeev Agrawal to send a team of doctors headed by the Chief Medical Officer to spread awareness about HIV among the locals. “Upon inquiry,it came to light that the principal did so due to massive pressure on him by the villagers,” said Mishra. “We would conduct a test on the boy and the girl on Tuesday in order to ascertain whether they are really affected with HIV or it is a rumour.” Prem Lal,the boy’s uncle,said: “A month ago,I had taken my nephew and the niece at the Moti Lal Nehru Medical College for HIV tests. The boy tested positive but no sign of HIV was found in the girl.” Prem Lal’s sister married one Suresh of Soraon area. Suresh,a farmer,was HIV positive and died on June 4. Prem Lal’s sister,who was also HIV positive,had died three years ago. After their deaths,the couple’s three children — two boys and a girl — have been living with Prem Lal.