Caught in debate, Nagpur school for HIV kids fast losing students

The controversy has already taken its toll, with enrollment down from 28 students to just six now, with many parents withdrawing their children.

The idea of a separate school for HIV-positive children was mooted by Sahara, which approached local corporator Milind Mane of the RPI (Amedkar), who, in turn, took the proposal to the NMC. The idea was well received and at a function marking World Aids Day on December 1, NMC Additional Commissioner Atul Patne announced that the school will be started soon.

Accordingly, on December 8, the school was opened with 28 children on the rolls. Within a few days, however, local activists started voicing their opposition, saying it amounted to segregating the children from the mainstream and worked against de-stigmatising them.

Nitin Lata Waman, who runs an NGO called Yuwamukti Abhiyan, told The Indian Express that the idea was against human values. “Not only is it against the law, but is socially disastrous too in the long run. These kids will now be easily identified as AIDS-affected and will be alienated further,” said Waman.

Mane, Sahara and some parents who have their children in the school, however, counter the activists’ stand. “Where were these people when these kids were facing discrimination within the so-called mainstream? Why did nobody think of doing something for them?” asked Mane.

He pointed out that the children belong to extremely poor families which can’t fend for themselves, with parents of 50 per cent of the children being People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) and the other half being orphans. “Everybody knows these children have AIDS. Their relatives don’t care for them. Their parents have nowhere to go but to keep their kids off the mainstream due to the discriminatory treatment meted out by society. We also understand they should be part of the mainstream, but if that is not happening, should they continue to be deprived of their right to have a decent education and life?” Mane asked.

Monika Fulmali (24), a mother of two boys, one of whom is on the school’s rolls, is a supporter of the school. “My husband and I can’t do much work. We are very poor and can’t bear the children’s expenses. When I was in hospital for treatment, there was nobody to attend to me. I was segregated and was made to sleep on the floor and nobody cared for my kids then. Where were all those who are opposing the school?” she said.

When contacted, NMC Additional Commissioner Atul Patne said: “We have not started a separate school for HIV-positive kids. It’s a school for children separated from the mainstream. Our school also has other students. This school isn’t going to disclose the identity of the HIV-positive children. However, their identity has already been disclosed.”