India Update

Our latest news has come to us from:
Dr. (Sr.) Elizabeth Vadakekara
MBBS, PGDCAP (UK),
Child Psychiatrist,
Co-ordinator,
THRANI Centre for Crisis Control,
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.

Dr Vadakekara has kindly shared with us a letter which she wrote to the President of India on March 26th, 2003, which not only comprehensively reported the situation concerning the Kerala siblings but also put forward a series of crucial proposal for the President's consideration.

(The Australian AIDS Fund Inc fully supports and endorses those proposals)

Her letter reads as follows:

To Respected Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Honorable President of India

Your concern over the discrimination and stigmatization of two children in Kerala is highly appreciable. We, at THRANI Center for Crisis Control, Kerala have been working in the HIV/AIDS intervention, suicide prevention and mental health promotion for the last five years.

The objective of this letter is to bring your kind attention regarding the plight of several HIV infected children in Kerala either orphaned or living with single parent. Currently most of them are enrolled in regular schools.

Our main concerns are:

• What if other school managements follow the suit of Kaithakuzhy School?
• Then who can and who will protect these innocent victims?
• Can we turn a deaf ear to these outright violation of human rights?

Therefore, we humbly furnish the following based on our experience and facts gathered from concerned individuals involved in this specific issue.

Background

In 1991, Mr. Chandy Pillai Koshy was married to Ms. Mary John and was living in Mumbai (Chandy's work place). Betty, Benzy and Benson were born to them in 1993, 1995 and 1997 respectively. Betty died of chronic diarrhea at the age of three and a half years. In 1996, Chandy and family returned to their home place- Kaithakuzhy, Chathannur in Kollam district of Kerala.

In 1997 Chandy was taken very ill and was diagnosed to have AIDS. He died shortly and it is alleged that his seropositive status was communicated to his wife and her family only just before his death.

Thereafter Mary's parents took charge of them against the wishes of Chandy Pillai's family. Mary had HIV test done in 1998 and her seropositive status made the situation worse.

Mr. Varghese (Mary's father) claims that they have spent over Rs. 2,00,000/- including Rs. 24,000/- for Fair Pharma, Ernakulam just to extend her life for few more years. In spite of all these measures Mary succumbed to death in 2000.

The early education of Benzy and Benson was at Kattachal Seventh Day Adventist's School, which had to be discontinued due to financial constraints.

After a series of expulsions and enrollments from three other schools - namely Sugathan Memorial School at Velichikala for 28 days, Punnakode School for a day and St. Thomas English Medium School, Adichanallur for 2½ months - because of felt stigma. In this context, Mr. Varghese appealed to Mr. Pratapavarma Thampan (the local MLA of Chathannur constituency), to intervene.

However his response was derogatory. Considering the predicament of the children, Mr. Varghese approached Mr. A. K. Antony, the Honorable Chief Minister of Kerala and this move was acted upon immediately. Benson and Benzy were enrolled at nearby Government Lower Primary School at Kaithakuzhy.

Actual Incident

Within a week, the parent-teachers association (PTA) of this school declared that 112 other parents are not going to send their children to the school and requested transfer certificates.

At this juncture, Kerala State AIDS Control Society (KSACS) conducted awareness sessions for PTA. This in fact backfired as people became more confused and fearful. Within a week there was total boycotting of school except Benzy and Benson, which was followed by the infamous public meeting on March 4th 2003.

In this gathering, the final verdict that stamps upon the fundamental human rights of Benzy and Benson (right against discrimination, right to education etc) was publicly declared by the words of common people and by the silence and helpless attitude adopted by the authorities. As a solution to this issue, the Government of Kerala announced that these children would be schooled at home.

As observers, we are raising the following questions and concerns:
1. Isn't it high time for evaluating and modifying the approach, content and process of HIV/AIDS awareness programmes promoted by Kerala State AIDS Control Society?

2. Can the State of Kerala afford to offer home based education for all HIV positive children?

3. What happens to the emotional and behavioral development of these children, which is possible mainly through healthy social interactions with peers in a school setting?

4. Isn't this home schooling a clear violation of their rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity as the individual, guaranteed by the Indian constitution and embodied in the international covenants?

5. Acquiring HIV infection, is it a crime, and AIDS victim, a criminal?

6. If lessening stigma and discrimination is our priority, do we ever pause to think the implication of segregating HIV infected people, whether it be at schools, health care centers, work place?

Suggestions and Recommendations

• Anti-discrimination policy towards HIV/AIDS to be developed by the Government with immediate effect and is to be supported by Law.
• Policies to ensure that, HIV infected children to be enrolled in schools just like any other children. HIV infection shall not be a factor in decisions concerning class arrangements, privileges or participation in any school sponsored activity.
• School based awareness sessions to highlight that there is no significant risk of transmitting HIV infection to other children in the school setting and to equip teachers and school authorities to ensure the safety and health of all children.
• Protecting and safeguarding the employment and health care rights of people, ensuring confidentiality and respect for human rights.
• Prevention programmes not to be based on fear, but to highlight developing a non-judgmental attitude and to foster tolerance and social solidarity.
• Communication campaign in the media (print, audio and visual), challenging popular myths and stereotypes and envisioning attitudinal change.
• Strategy to combat gender bias in HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination, as women are more likely to be blamed even when they have been infected by their husbands, leaving a terrible toll on them as mothers, as daughters, as care givers and as people living with HIV/AIDS

Sir, with due respect we submit these facts before you with the hope and expectation of a kind and favorable action.
Faithfully yours
(signed)
Elizabeth Vadakekara
Copies to: Ministers of Kerala & Other concerned individuals

The THRANI Center is the Mental Health and HIV/AIDS prevention division of FIRM (Foundation for Integrated Research in Mental Health) a non-profit, voluntary organisation based in the capital city of Kerala.

Thrani's activities are focussed on suicide prevention, HIV/AIDS/STI intervention and mental health promotion.

The name 'Thrani' has its root in Sanskrit, which means Strength...the individual's hidden inner ability or capacity which the Thrani team seeks to develop. In brief: 'Thrani helps to help oneself'.

The THRANI website is http://www.thrani.com
Its email address: thrani@asianetindia.com

On June 12th, 2003, India's SAATHII organisation (www.saathii.org) which is dedicated to the battle against HIV infection in India reported that:

India's President Kalam had taken up the cudgels against AIDS apartheid, stressing that it was his mission to prevent the discrimination of HIV-inflicted students in school and underlined the need for parents and teachers to realise that HIV was not contagious.

President Kalam appealed for an end to discrimination against HIV-positive children in school, saying such students should be part and parcel of the school's society.

In an apparent reference to unsafe sex, one of the main causes for the spread of the disease, President Kalam also said educated people should spread the message that a "clean life" could prevent the spread of the disease.

President Kalam made his comments in a speech to mark the 90th anniversary celebrations of the Bel-Air hospital in Panchgani.

The Australian AIDS Fund Incorporated congratulates the President on his stand and applauds his statements.