Schools let HIV positive kids in with flowers, candy

Following a report in The Indian Express on June 15 about schools in the Yashwantnagar suburb of Sangli not allowing HIV/AIDS affected children from the Bhagini Nivedita hostel to enter classrooms, the state Government and district administration swung into action over the weekend to ensure that 28 of the 40 HIV affected children were permitted to attend classes in two schools 8212; as many as 26 in a zilla parishad school and two in a private management high school.

All 28 were welcomed to the respective schools around 10 a.m. today with flowers, chocolates and books. Meanwhile, it8217;s been decided that 11young children, aged around four, will remain inside the hostel for one more year as they may prove too young for the school teachers. One girl, aged 18, is engaged in vocational training in the campus itself.

When contacted, District Collector Rajendra Chavan said, 8220;I was shocked when I read The Indian Express report and ordered a probe into the case. The Block Education Officer and headmasters of the schools visited Bhagini Nivedita the next day to find out the facts.8221; The other state Government officials who made a beeline to the hostel included officers from the District Women and Child Welfare Department and the state CID8212;the latter reaching Sangli on Saturday to take stock of the situation.

8220;We held a meeting of school teachers, headmasters and hostel authorities. It was decided to correct past mistakes by welcoming the children with flowers and books,8221; said Namdeo Mali, Block Education Officer, Miraj Panchayat Samiti.

Neeta Damle of Bhagini Nivedita said, 8220;It was the happiest moment in the kids8217; lives when they stepped out of the hostel premises to go to school today morning. Education is their right and now teachers should ensure that these kids are not discriminated against.8221;

Meanwhile, the district administration is launching a drive to enlighten parents and teachers to clear their misconceptions about HIV/AIDS. 8220;We will continuously communicate with parents and teachers,8221; said Chavan.

Mali said the welcome was arranged in such a fashion that the 28 children did not have occasion to come under special scrutiny. 8220;All students in the schools were given flowers and books so that affected kids were not identified.

Teachers in the school have promised to protect the identity of the affected children,8221; he said.

For children, the first day of school was unforgettable. 8220;It was a completely new world for me with new books, chocolates and new friends. I want to study hard to become a doctor,8221; says Vishwas name changed who firmly believes that he will recover to serve people.