Social stigma keeps HIV positive away from Anatodaya scheme

Although the Central government has extended the facility of subsidised ration to HIV positive,the social stigma attached to it is the main hurdle which keeps them away from availing of this benefit. Jagjit Singh Maan,Chairman,Punjab Networking of Positive People Society,“Our society has about 600 HIV positive people. About three months ago,the Central government issued a circular stating that all HIV positive people could get subsidised ration from the depots of the District Food and Civil Supply department under Antodaya scheme. Earlier,under the scheme,subsidised ration was given to the people below poverty line. As per the governments’ instructions,each HIV positive person is supposed to get a certificate from the ART centre Centre stating the HIV positivity of a person. After submitting the certificate,they can get subsidised ration from the ration depot concerned.”

Maan said,“HIV positive people are not willing not avail this benefit as it would their eat into their privacy. These people say that when they will go to ration depots for getting ration,or to the DFSC office,residents will identify them and their privacy of their disease would be made public. The government should find some other way out to give them subsidised ration.”

Meanwhile Dr Harjinder Singh,Senior Medical Officer,Civil Hospital,Ludhiana,said,“I have not received any instructions for issuing certificate to HIV positive people.”