(a) whether the Government is aware of the incident of a seven year old being driven out of his school in Kolkata because he has tested positive for HIV; and
(b) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to address the stigma attached to people with HIV, especially children in school/college campuses in the country?
MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)
(a): Government of West Bengal has informed that the boy, who tested positive for HIV, has been admitted to the Deepshikha Primary School at Bishnupur Block under South 24 Paraganas in the State of West Bengal.
(b): This Ministry has issued guidelines dated 26th March, 2014 for eliminating corporal punishment in schools under the RTE Act, 2009, that prohibits for mental harassment of the children suffering from HIV/AIDS. University Grant Commission (UGC) has issued a circular dated 29th April, 2014 to all the Vice Chancellors of universities to extend the reach of HIV / AIDS prevention programs in Higher Educational Institutions and to include HIV/AIDS as one of the component in all the vocational courses / skill building programmes.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (National AIDS Control Organization) has undertaken multimedia campaigns such as hoardings, bus panels, information kiosks, folk performances and exhibition vans to address the stigma & discrimination attached with people living with HIV (PLHIV) at different settings including schools/colleges. In addition, under Adolescence Education Programme (AEP) in Schools and Red Ribbon Clubs (RRC) programme in Colleges, students are sensitized on HIV/AIDS related issues including Stigma & Discrimination associated with PLHIV.
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