Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Discrepancies at the HIV programming authorities! State or National Authorities?

It’s with a great concern that the endorsed principle of GIPA being adopted at the State AIDS Control Societies and the NACO are ignoring the very same guidelines of the working principle that has shown up a promising hopes and aspiration for the thousandths of PLHIV. Well, many an issues on the same lines have been vociferous at the various e-forums with regard to other state also.
However, will it be going to be a new issue of discrimination by the same authorities working to improve the lives and fight stigma or perhaps a one of those old chapters of indiscriminate fraud that has been the norms in the state of Manipur?
This system has eroded into the working of every sphere of profession rather than the HIV virus attacking the system. Or rather turning into a more monstrous form of virus that needs to be worked out before it is too late or are we waiting for an AIDS war where there is immense frustration gripping into every PLHIV with an urge to inject the blood stained virus to those people living on HIV.
Pertaining to the above discrepancies, the said grievance was conveyed by Pushpakanta, an activist promoting the rights of people living with the virus.
The same activist was made to look like a fool after he was preferred for the post of PLHA Coordinator after the earlier selected candidate was disowned owing to charges of fraud and manipulation of documents related with certificates. This incidence was admitted by the authority itself and an assurance was given to the aggrieved candidate, Pushpakanta, after a thorough official enquiry with the rationale that of being a lone candidate with a background of PLHIV community and also along with the other rejected one which was chosen earlier. After a thorough scrutiny, it was also learnt that there were only two candidates from the PLHIV community and when the other was rejected on charges of manipulation, it was obvious that the post will have to be handed to the other candidate from the PLHIV community. Many an assurances were conveyed to the aggrieved candidates for initiating the kind necessary action and the assurances are still continuing with the hope that justice will be delivered at last. But how many assurances are required or are we waiting for an opportunity that the SACS will grasped to put in place a person from the non- PLHIV community for the said post. This post has remained dormant for a long time and affecting the programme of many PLHIV. Or is the said post of PLHA coordinator going to be removed from the sanctioned SACS post? If not, then where has all the budget and salary of the same being diverted to? Who is going to answer this pervading question? SACS or NACO?
Will someone who really matter kindly give an affirmative statement on the same issue or is this one of those Manipuri system of professional ethics where rights of PLHIV are being murdered in broad daylight.
yours in solidarity!
Rajesh khongbantabam