AIDS CONTROL IN INDIA

BOOK WITH A MISSION !!!!!!!!!!!!

AIDS Sutra-Untold stories From India,is a compilation of 14 essays/stories to highlight the unimaginable epidemic of AIDS and the suffering of those affected by it in our country.Having read two of these fourteen,I was really touched by the realism of the presentation and reading about the AIDS victims,specially the plight of sex-workers in India was not surprising but actually shameful and shocking

The three groups most vulnerable to these diseases are the sexworkers,trans-sexuals (hijras) and homosexuals.
The common factor for all of them is unprotected sex with multiple partners and the root cause for this,is most cases is the society

Most of the commercial sex-workers are forced into flesh trade due to financial compulsions and are inducted into this at a stage or age when they cannot take a decision,and without consent. It is the onus of the parents,society,NGOs,social workers and the government to come forward to their rescue
Parents who cannot afford to bring up a female child due to poverty should try to find a job for them, after the age of 14.There is a great need of maids,domestic help and baby-sitters in the society today.This is a much better alternative for girls and women being forced to prostitution.They can look forward to a more dignified and respectable living in this situation.
Its tragic that the existence of the sexworkers cannot be eradicated,but we can all contribute in decreasing this menace and the plight,The government and all concerned should put in all endeavors to atleast minimize the number of sexworkers,improve their living standards,prevent their exploitation and to extend them adequate medical cover,Schemes for rehabilitation of sex-workers is mandatory,too

The hijras too,resort to sex for a livelihood,and hence all efforts should be made to provide them opportunities for jobs or self employment.A reservation in job vacancies for trans-sexuals may be a highly beneficial move,to provide them with job opportunities

Most of the homosexuals indulge in sex with multiple partners usually out of desperation,as the family,society and the Government denies them the choice for a long term relationship,leave alone marriage.Acceptance by society and relaxation of laws for encouraging this,are the need of the hour to increase the practice of monogamy in homosexuals

We should not forget that AIDS patients are the main source of the spreading epidemic of AIDS and hence helping them is actually helping the society and the mankind in general.I just hope that the cries of AIDS victims and the plight of those prone to be affected by this deadly disease,echoes through this book to shatter the deafness of the government and to break the slumber of the society to fight this killer demon of AIDS!

Dr Sanjay Kapoor Lucknow