Is it safe ?

Pitching ghat, District Hoshangabad, Madhya Pradesh, India.

More than twenty people on board on just one motor boat crossing Narmada River with absolute no safety equipments, life jackets, nothing on - board ? A call to action.

Local Ingenuity

(In picture - young boy on the Sethani Ghat holding magnets tied to a rope)

Hoshagabad District in Madhya Pradesh have famous Sethani ghat which are popular for sacred bath along the banks of holy river Narmada. As part of their prayers devotees immerse coins, coconuts etc in the holy river Narmada. About fifty local young men and boys have their own ingenuity to collect the coins being immersed by the devotees. They use number of magnets tied as one and then to a rope to collect the coins. Coins of rupees one, two and five get stuck to the magnets, when they are thrown in the waters of the river. This is part of their earnings for themselves and their families. Rajesh, one of them told the blog that they normally earn about Rs 100- 150 a day which may varies and also increase during or after the time mela is held. We are about fifty of them who earn by this way while some others dive in the river to collect coconuts as immersed by devotees as part of their prayers, he added.

Missing guides of Sanchi !

“Hindustan ka Dil Dekho”, is one of the brilliant eye catching advertisement undertaken by the State of Madhya Pradesh to bring in more tourists to the state’s rich cultural heritage. But on other hand, state lacks infrastructure which can match the tourism growth. Apart from bad connectivity, places to stay in tourist destinations, what tourism in Madhya Pradesh is also lacking is limited number of well-trained guides to help tourists in understanding the rich heritage of the State. Interesting figures have come up in media from Sanchi, which eight officially licensed tourist guides but only three are normally available rest five are always missing. Sanch is the stupa village, situated 45 km away from Bhopal and is World Heritage Site. The locals say that the license was given to guides who are not the locals and are hardly there to guide tourist visiting the heritage. Also they don’t know much about the stupa. Stupa is visited by large number during winters and needs to match by equal number of tourist guides. A tourist guide not only leads groups of people around the venue and provides a commentary on the features, history of the destination but contributes considerably to the perception of the destination. Tourist guide helps in promoting the cultural and natural heritage and also helps to ensure its sustainability by making visitors aware of its importance and vulnerability.

In fact CII in its reports on tourism lays special importance on tourist guides and a need to train them. Guide's knowledge of local stories, history and culture adds value to the interest of the visiting tourist and which one remembers for years to come

Schools without teachers in Betul

December 18, 2007 Dainik Jagran, Bhopal edition in its column ‘Letter to the Chief Minister’ had carried a letter written from Malkapura, Betul district. The letter raises an important concern and informs that 54 middle school and 14 primary schools in Betul district don’t have teachers. The person writing from the district also brings up another important issue that even if there are teachers, rather then being in school, they are attached to other departments and are undertaking administrative work. This letter to the head of the State calls for immediate reversal of the same. It rightfully questions that if schools don’t have teachers then who will teach?

It may be pertinent to mention that this blog had written about ‘the column namely letter to Chief Minister’ in two newspapers of Bhopal which gives space to people to raise concern with the political head of the state. This is one such example. Now more important is that this letter is noticed and immediate action is taken. This problem is not only in Betul but in all districts of the state. Numbers of teachers are less, if they are their many times they are compulsorily engaged in other jobs except teaching. Here it a call to media, here is the hard story, please do the needful, students of the state will benefit. A call to developmental agencies working in the State to keep raising this issue and bring teachers back to school, and then only we can expect students to be back.

Teachers are meant to teach, it is important that all schools should have teachers as needed and they should be teaching and imbibing education to students or else there is no point of saying school chalein hum!

Youth using edu-phone in red ribbon express parked at Habibganj

Dec 17- 18, 2007 - Red Ribbon express, a seven coach HIV awareness train flagged on Dec 1, 2007 is at Habibganj Railway Station in Bhopal and is attracting thousands. This is initiative
of National Aids Control Organisation, Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and is being supported by State Aids Control Societies, UNICEF, Indian Railways and NYKS.


In picture (photo credit - Anil Gulati) - A youth using edu-phone - a way to educate the young ones on right information on HIV.

PM expresses his concern over rural – urban divide and inter regional divide

Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh while speaking at the inaugural of Golden Jubilee function of the Institute of Economic Growth on Saturday expressed concerned about imbalances that persist in our growth process. He said that the performance of Indian economy has certainly improved in recent years but rural-urban divide and inter-regional divide are the areas of concern. He added that Government has initiated several policies aimed at bridging the rural – urban divide. The investment being made in rural infrastructure, rural education and healthcare and in promoting non-farm employment in rural areas and it should help. But, the task is Himalayan and there is much that State governments will have to do in this regard. He added that Inter-regional imbalances in developments have both economic and political causes and consequences.

He sought support from people at the meeting to look at newer and creative and rational solutions to this problem of imbalances and growth. He said that What are then the other pathways to progress? How can we reduce the persistent imbalances in development? How can we increase rural incomes and modernise the rural economy? How can we empower our farming community and invest in its capabilities and productivity? ‘I think we need a new wave of creative thinking on these issues. Old ways of thinking seems to have run their course.’ Can we find more rational solutions to the problems of imbalances and inequities in growth?

India per capita income still very low: ADB

India which despite being a trillion dollar economy which now has increasing number of billionaires in the country, has a growing sensex, has been ranked low and is behind four countries in Asia in terms of per capita income, a new Asian Development Bank (ADB) report said. Brunei topped the list of Asia's richest economies by per capita income and Hong Kong emerged as the biggest spender. Nepal, meanwhile, was the region's poorest by both measures. The report is part of the World Bank’s 2005 International Comparison Programme (ICP), a data standardization project for 146 countries that will make evaluating incomes and expenditures across the globe easier.

Brunei is followed by Singapore, Macau, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Apart from Nepal, the poorest countries include Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos and India. The study covered 23 economies, excluding Japan, South Korea and East Timor.

The latest study, in which India and China took part together for the first time, uses the Hong Kong dollar as the base currency and 2005 as the base year. China meanwhile, ranked above average with its per capita income of 23,267 Hong Kong dollars ($2,986).

The study has ranked countries in terms of per capita gross domestic product (GDP), actual final consumption expenditure (AFCE) and gross fixed capital formation (GFCF). AFCE is the sum of consumption expenditures by households and government, and according to ADB is the best available measure of household living standards; GFCF measures the investment levels in the economy.

Kerala CM to intervene in retaining British library in T'puram

Sharing concerns of book lovers over the British Council's decision to close down its British library in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala's Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan has promised to take up the matter with the authorities. On a visit to the library on Saturday, Achuthanandan said to media that the Council's decision to wind up the library, a part of the city's culturescape for over four decades, by the end of next March, has come as a blow to students, academics and the public at large.The Chief Minister said he would take up the matter with British Consulate officials. The government was also ready to offer whatever contributions it could make for the continued functioning of the library.The British Library was set up in the city of Thiruvananthapuramin in year 1964 and it has over 6,500 members now.

Bhopal's British Library to close down

British Library Bhopal will be officially close its operations in Bhopal on February 29, 2008. The blog had covered the story where people in Bhopal and media had expressed anguish and shock. Above is photograph of the poster pasted across British Library Bhopal. This is one of the hundreds pasted there after the announcement of its closure this week. In fact students of Bhopal have started a blog www.savebclbhopal.blogspot.com to express their concern while another popular web site www.scratchmysoul.com his having live debate on its web site on the issue.

Members of British library and many others feel the need of debate on this decision, i.e to debate on the reasons of it closure. Many feel that State Government should intervene. Bhopal media for last three days has been carrying out stories of shock and anguish expressed by people. British Library on other hand has stated that this decision is part of their strategy to continuously adapt to range of services which it offers to ensure that resources are directed into news areas as they emerge. The closure of this library does not signal the end of a relationship. The public will be able to access the services of British Council and it will be holding seminars and briefing for perspective students. The British Council is changing the nature of its work and its reiterates its commitment to people of Bhopal and will remain in close contact.

Though many in the state had offered to take it over, not sure, if this is possible, may be a remote. Looking at the condition of other libraries in the city this was 'the best', professionally managed, well maintained, had a decent collation of books and off course great staff ! Kudos to the staff members of the Library who were always helpful to its members and readers who used to visit the Library. The events and happening at the library used to make it very live.Bhopal will surely miss this asset, after Feb 29, 2008. May be if someone has 'will ' and resources it could set up a similar business model.

Is Bhopal Van Vihar safe for animals?

Gautam, a five year-old male tiger died on last Thursday at Van Vihar, National Park of Bhopal, in Madhya Pradesh. This is not the first death this year, if we look at figures two tigers and one white tiger have died this year in Van Vihar. Particularly disturbing is that deaths of these ‘big cats’ have being happening in regular intervals since from October 2006. A total of six ‘big cats’ have died here. This includes two white tigers, one tigress, two tiger and one lion. In the post-mortem report conducted on Gautam’s body and as shared with media states that the main reasons of the death was vector borne disease. Now this raises another question about safety of other animals in Van Vihar. Though as a precautionary measure, blood samples of the other carnivorous animals of the park have been sent for testing. But is that enough?

Van Vihar, Bhopal national park is kind of pride of the state and host number of animals, including white tiger, panther, lion and tigress. But deaths in last year and half have raised a concern in the state, among wild life experts, media and many others who love and care for animals, that there is a need to increase steps to prevent these deaths to happen. Madhya Pradesh is tiger state some wild life experts feel that there is a need of wild life health centre in the state and also build capacity within the state on the knowledge levels on wild life. Gautam’s deaths has once again brought this discussion to forefront, but hope this remains and some steps are taken in this regard or lest we forget Gautam’s death and till next time which may or may not even give us this opportunity ?

India's progress report on MDGs - GOI

In September 2000, the member States in the United Nations unanimously adopted the Millennium Declaration in the meeting of the General Assembly. The Millennium Development Goals commit the international community to an expanded vision of development, one that vigorously promotes human development as the key to sustaining social and economic progress in all countries, and recognizes the importance of creating a global partnership for development. The goals have been commonly accepted as a framework for measuring development progress. Following consultations among international agencies, including the World Bank, and the specialized agencies of the United Nations, the General Assembly recognized the Millennium Development Goals as part of the road-map for implementing the Millennium Declaration. Following are the eight millennium development goals, which are to be achieved by 2015 -

Goal 1 – Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
Goal 2 – Achieve universal primary education
Goal 3 – Promote gender equality and empower women
Goal 4 – Reduce child mortality
Goal 5 – Improve maternal health
Goal 6 – Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases
Goal 7 – Ensure environment sustainability
Goal 8 – Develop a global partnership for development

These are goals pledged by 189 Heads of States to adopt measures in the fight against poverty, hunger, illiteracy, gender inequality, disease and environmental degradation. The eight goals are divided into 18 targets comprising 48 indicators. The achievements with regard to various goals for India as per press note of Press Information Bureau Government of India which was released on December 6, 2007 are given below

Goal 1: As per Planning Commission estimates, the poverty ratio declined from 36 per cent in 1993-94 to 27.5 per cent in 2004-05. Regarding hunger, according to Report of the NSSO entitled, “Perceived Adequacy of Food Consumption in Indian Households 2004-05”, in the rural areas, the percentage of households where all the members reported enough food everyday throughout the year rose from 94.5 per cent in 1993-94 to 97.4 per cent in 2004-05. For urban areas the percentage of households who reported enough food everyday throughout the year increased from 98.1 per cent in 1993-94 to 99.4 per cent in 2004-05.


Goal 2: The number of out of school children declined from 32 million in 2001-02 to 7.1 million in 2005-06. The literacy rate increased from 52.2 per cent in 1991 to 64.9 per cent in 2001. The gross enrolment ratio in primary education crossed 100 per cent mark for both boys and girls.

Goal 3: Female-male proportion in primary education improved from 71:100 in 1990-91 to 88:100 in 2004-05. Similar proportion in secondary education improved from 50:100 to 71:100 during the same period. The gross enrollment ratio of girls increased by nearly 20 percentage points in the period, 2000-01 to 2004-05.

Goal 4: Under five mortality rate (U5MR) declined from 125 deaths per thousand live births in 1988-92 to 98 in 1998-2002. The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) declined from 80 per thousand live births in 1990 to 58 in 2005.

Goal 5: The Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) declined from 407 per 100,000 live births in 1998 to 301 during 2001-03. The proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel increased from 33 per cent in 1992-93 (National Family Health Survey – I (NFHS-1) to 48.3 per cent in 2005-06 (NFHS-III)

Goal 6: The prevalence of HIV among pregnant women declined from 0.74 per thousand pregnant women in 2002 to 0.68 in 2006. The death rate associated with TB declined from 42 deaths per 100,000 population in 1990 to 29 in 2004. The prevalence of Malaria declined. The proportion of TB patients successfully treated increased from 81 per cent in 1996 to 86 per cent in 2005.

Goal 7: As per assessment made in 2003, the total land area under forests is 20.64 per cent. The reserved and protected forests constitute 19 per cent of the total land area. The percentage of households having access to safe drinking water (water supplied from a tap, hand-pump/tube-well) increased from 62.3 per cent in 1991 to 78 per cent in 2001. The proportion of households having toilet/bathroom facilities within the house increased from 23.7 per cent in 1991 to 36.1 per cent in 2001.

Goal 8: The overall tele-density increased from 2.86 per cent in 2000 to 18.31 per cent in March 2007. Use of personal computers increased from 5.4 million in 2001 to 19.6 million in 2006 and there are 3.5 internet users per 100 population in March 2006.

The Government has not drawn any separate programme to meet the Millennium Development Goals. However, the Millennium Development Goals are quite similar to the objectives and targets laid down in the Five Year Plans. In fact, some of the targets as specified in the Approach Paper to the Eleventh Five Year Plan relating to poverty alleviation, infant mortality, maternal mortality, school enrolment, etc. are more ambitious than the ones specified in the Millennium Development Goals.

Bhopalities express shock and anguish on Bhopal’s British library closure

Bhopal's British Library will close for the public from February 29, 2008. Red Pryde Regional Director of British Council disclosed this to journalist yesterday at Bhopal. This has come as a shock to people in Bhopal and even the staff members of the library. People in Bhopal have expressed their anguish and concern on the sudden decisions. It is big loss to students and people of Bhopal said a young student who was an active member of the library. It is one of the finest libraries of the town and I don't understand the reason for this decision added another. May be it is call to people who allowed this decision to happen and to media or else will repent and miss this in Capital of MP.

New website from heart of India

www.mpnewsflash.com is a recent entry on web wires. It is a news based web site with focus on news from dil of India - Madhya Pradesh. It is updated daily, not only gives you news with tadka but also raises issue of social concern which sometimes get lost in the mainstream.

264 languages in India spoken by less than 10,000 people

As per information compiled by Registrar General of India (Ministry of Home Affairs), from 2001 Census, there are 264 languages in India which are spoken by less than 10,000 people each.

The future of these languages is threatened due to limited number of speakers. The Ministry of Human Resource Development has, therefore, initiated steps to formulate a new scheme for Preservation and Development of Languages not covered by 8th Schedule (Bharat Bhasha Vikas Yojana). The scheme is based on the recommendations of Working Group on Languages and Book Promotion under XIth Plan set up by Planning Commission.

Madhya Pradesh may get a central university while Bihar, Raj. and A.P. may get IIT

It is proposed that in eleventh Five Year Plan, that each of the 16 States which do not have a Central University so far, namely Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand to have one during the eleventh Plan period. This information was shared by the Minister of State for Human Resource Development, D. Purandeswari in a written reply to a question by Uday Pratap Singh in Rajya Sabha as per Press information bureau press release today.

Meanwhile Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh on the occasion of the 60th Independence Day had announced the setting up of eight new Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) in the country during the Eleventh Five Year Plan. As per Press Information press note Central Government have received requests from various State Governments including Governments of Uttar Pradesh & Orissa to set up new IITs in their States. Based on the recommendation of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, under the Chairmanship of Prof. C.N.R. Rao, the Government has already decided to establish three new IITs, one each in Bihar in the East, Rajasthan in the West and Andhra Pradesh in the South, during the 11th Plan period. Decision on the location of the remaining Institutes has not yet been taken.

No to upgrade Gwalior’s Institute to IIT

But on another question on issue to upgrade Atal Bihari Vajpayee Indian Institute of Information Technology & Management, Gwalior (ABVIIITMG) as an IIT raised by Maya Singh in Rajya Sabha. Minister of State for Human Resource Development, D. Purandeswari in a written reply to this question said that ‘Madhya Pradesh is already having various centrally funded technical educational institutions viz. Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology (MANIT), Bhopal; Atal Bihari Vajpayee Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management (ABV-IITM), Gwalior; Pt. Dwarka Prasad Mishra Indian Institute of Information Technology Design and Manufacturing (PDPM-IITDM), Jabalpur and Indian Institute of Management (IIM) at Indore. Further, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) has been approved to be established in Bhopal. Planning Commission has given its ‘in-principle’ approval for setting up a School of Planning and Architecture in Bhopal. At present there is no proposal to upgrade Atal Bihari Vajpayee Indian Institute of Information Technology & Management, Gwalior (ABVIIITMG) as an IIT’.

Dec 3, 2007 - 23 years after Bhopal Gas Tragedy, and thousands still suffer ?

'Call to action for people who suffer even today - 23 years after the tragedy. This is painted on wall opposite the carbide factory gate, in Bhopal.

Jan 1- Second line of treatment for PWH will be availble in India

On the eve of the World AIDS Day that the government announced that from January 1 it will launch the life saving second line Anti-retroviral Treatment (ART) for those affected. National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) will be providing the same.
As per estimates India has about 2.5 million people affected with HIV/AIDS and among them only over 1,00,000 are currently receiving first line Antiretroviral AIDS Treatment (ART).

The first- line drugs are highly active and cost effective and is recommended by WHO and adopted by many government ART roll out programmes. But the second- line drugs are more advanced. Many are in urgent need of second- line treatment due to the failure of their first-line treatments, there are a million people in India that need, or will soon need, basic first-line anti retroviral treatment, Dr Mahesh Ganesan, advocacy co-ordinator for AIDS Health Foundation (AHF)/India Cares shared with media.

Dr Chinkholal Thangsing, Asia Pacific Bureau Chief for the AHF while talking to media said that as far as the accessibility of these anti-retroviral drugs for both the regimens was concerned, they are available and accessible. The first line treatment is available at retail vendors and through the ART centers of the government.

MP needs strong resolutions to counter HIV spread

Let it not remain as one another AIDS day, and let’s make strong resolution for the state this day.

December 1 across India and world is marked as World Aids Day. Madhya Pradesh, central part of India will also hosts number of functions and events in its capital city Bhopal and many other districts to mark this day. Madhya Pradesh was earlier classified as HIV low prevalence state in India by National Aids Control Organization on the levels of HIV prevalence in the state which has now being reclassified as ‘high risk’. Whatever term is used, more than the term the fact is that more than 11,500 persons living with HIV are within the state. This figure has a basis and it is based on the surveillance data as shared in the recently held (Nov 21 & 22, 2007) State Level meeting on HIV/AIDS by Madhya Pradesh State Aids Control Society. There could be a debate on this data too by many in civil society as it is based on the estimates collated from government hospitals and many a times misses out people which depend on the private sector. But without entering into that debate for many of us, these numbers are not just numbers but are families which get impacted by this virus. And out of these only 1300 as of now are being able to avail the support of Anti Retroviral Therapy i.e. drug treatment being offered by the State’s in its two medical collages of Indore and Jabalpur. May be not all need as this is decided by the medical professionals and it should be given under their medical supervision only but may be many more be needing it, may be this could be one resolve to understand and provide for the treatment, care and support of all persons living with HIV in the state, not just few, for namesake. This should be first resolve.

Many seminars, rallies, events are conducted to mark this day which aid in spreading awareness on the issue, which is needed. But more importantly then these events, this momentum which is seen on this day should not remains limited to one day and need would be to let this talk and focus on the issue flow after December 1st. As of now it remains within realm of World Aids day; What after it ? We are way behind a time when this is mainstreamed and is integral part of programmes being managed by various sectoral departments like health, women and child development, social welfare, Panchayati Raj not only limited to State Aids Control Society. One of the major objectives to mark this day is to bring attention of people and media to the issue and raise concern for increased focus on the issue. But we in our state are way behind on this front, may be our second resolve is to keep the discussion going on the topic. The discussion is far behind the levels when it can be debated normally within communities in the state. Stigma, discriminations and hype which get associated with it, both positive and negative make it a topic of few. Probably that is the reason many have expressed cynicism when we talk on this issue, which will wean away slowly but if the debate on the HIV happens within larger spectrum and with much more openness. There is not only lack of access and understanding of right information on the issue only within the departments but even within those who make decisions, both at state and local level, which needs to be strengthened.

Third resolve could be to help make sure that right formation reach all, meaning all especially communities in interiors of the state in the language and manner which is simple and easy to understand. National family heath Survey data reveals that in Madhya Pradesh only 45.3 % women and 68.3 % men had ‘heard’ (please mark the word) about AIDS in the state, and if one looks at urban / rural bifurcation this level of awareness is still limited to urban areas indicating need to strengthen efforts of communication so that we can reach at least certain level of acceptable information in the state. May be that should be our third resolve.

There is lot of talk on awareness but may be the above three resolves tried to look beyond the same and if put practice with commitment will help us fight with the spread of virus by engaging all, which is needed as of today.

Contributed by Anil

Aid paid, zero for AIDS

While patients are discriminated, condemned and left to their fate, the AIDS awareness campaign is a catchword that means nothing, even in public hospitals, despite millions being spent on government-sponsored programmes

Farah Aziz Delhi, HARDNEWS

A debate is raging on the number of HIV/AIDS patients in India. It could be anywhere between 5.7 or 2.5 million. However, these are just numbers. Somewhere, we forgot to talk about people. Issues of injustice and discrimination against the counted ones are often neglected.

Sadanand (name changed), 40, can’t see with his left eye: the result of a sudden rise in blood pressure. When he approached a hospital in Delhi, he was denied operation. Why? He was HIV positive.

His travails lasted for almost a year. On August 8, 2006, Sadanand visited the Guru Nanak Hospital in Delhi, where Dr B Ghosh advised him an immediate operation to save his eyesight. As a date for the operation was being fixed he informed that he was HIV positive, and showed his prescriptions to the doctor, thinking that his HIV positive status should come for consideration in his treatment. Dr Ghosh asked him to come back after a few days.

Consequently, when he went to the doctor on August 15, he was kept waiting for hours. He was asked to come after 15 days. A desperate Sadanand visited the doctor again on September 1. He told the doctor that he was being discriminated because he is HIV positive. At this, the doctor warned him not to visit him again as he could infect other patients. However, Dr Ghosh finally agreed to an operation, scheduled for September 25, after Sadanand threatened to file a police report.

On the day of the scheduled operation, Sadanand waited outside the operation theatre the entire day. At around 5 pm, Dr Ghosh declared that he would not conduct the operation.

Sadanand gave up and went for private treatment at Shroff Hospital, Daryaganj, in New Delhi. The operation was not entirely successful since by then it was too late. Sadanand can now see partially with his right eye, his left eye lost forever. He had to pay Rs 16,000 for his treatment at Shroff Hospital. He works as a counsellor for voluntary organisation, his monthly income is Rs 8,000, he lives in a rented flat, looks after his mother and spends at least Rs 2,000 a month on his treatment.

An agitated Sadanand filed an FIR against Dr Ghosh. The police, instead, sent him to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), saying that cases of discrimination by government officials do not fall under their jurisdiction. So he approached the NHRC as the last resort and got a case filed against Dr Ghosh on October 26, 2006, the receipt for which (Registration number 3006/30/2006-2007/OC) he got on December 15. On February 1, 2007, the NHRC informed Sadanand that his case has been referred to the then health secretary, Delhi, DS Negi, for further action.

“As I presented my case before Negi, his attitude seemed dubious. He gave me a vague assurance that he will look into the matter, and that he had asked his personal assistant to talk to the doctor,” says Sadanand. He kept on visiting the secretariat. Twice, he claims, he was wrongly informed that the secretary was not present, although Sadanand could see him sitting inside. After about four or five futile visits, Sadanand finally got to meet Negi on July 25, a day before he was transferred from the department.

“I have accepted my fate,” Sadanand says. “I know the new secretary will also show the same attitude and nothing will be done. Dr Ghosh will never be convicted because he is a government official. Who can touch him? My health is more important to me. I have to fight for my living now, not the case of blatant victimisation.” Ironically, Sadanand was the first HIV positive person to have been registered for free medication under the HIV/Aids programme of the government of India.

Another case is that of Savitri (name changed), 38, a housewife based in Nehona in Bihar. After being suspicious of her symptoms, she visited a doctor in Safdarjung Hospital. She complained of recurrent fever, headache, irregular menstruation and weight loss. The doctor recommended a list of tests been registered for — urine, stool, blood and ultrasound tests, and asked Savitri to get them done from private pathological labs, as the handwriting of the lab attendants in Safdarjung Hospital was illegible, and the reports unreliable. Savitri got the tests done from outside. They cost her around Rs 2,500. “I thought if I disobeyed the doctor's orders I too would get AIDS like my husband, who did not go for tests even after the doctors told him to,” she says.

After submitting the test reports, Savitri complained of vaginal irritation. The doctor suspected a sexually transmitted disease (STD) and asked Savitri to lie down so she could take her vaginal fluid. During the conversation, Savitri disclosed that her husband is HIV positive. The doctor immediately pulled back her hand and scolded Savitri for not informing her earlier. The doctor refused to take the vaginal sample and asked Savitri to get an Elisa test done.

After examining the report, which declared Savitri positive, the doctor refused to treat her and referred her to Dr Ravindran. He recommended fresh tests; Savitri had to spend another Rs 2,000. It was only later that Dr Ravindran got to know about Savitri's travails and accused the earlier doctor of discrimination. This, however, made things worse for Savitri, as Dr Ravindran went on a long leave, and Savitri had to again go to the doctor who had rejected her. Losing all hope and heavily in debt, Savitri and her husband returned to their home in Nehona in, Bihar.

Contrast this human tragedy to the lavish financial reality of the HIV/AIDS programme in India. Among the major national health programmes, finances for HIV/AIDS is second only to malaria. It has been occupying a prominent place since the beginning of the Ninth Five Year Plan, 1997. By the end of the Plan, the financial allocation for the HIV/AIDS programme was almost equal to that of the programme on malaria eradication. While the total outlay on malaria eradication has been Rs 9,630 million during 1997-2002, that of the HIV/AIDS programme has been Rs 7,280 million. According to the ministry of health, over the years, the financial allocation to the HIV/AIDS programme has recorded the highest growth (approximately 100 per cent rise during 1997-2002) among all national programmes.

Nearly 75 per cent of the total funds procured by the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) is officially diverted to prevention and awareness. Rs 40 billion has been spent in the National AIDS Control Programme or NACP-I and NACP-II since 1998 — towards prevention and awareness alone. A budget of Rs. 11,585 crore has recently been announced for NACP-III, of which a little over 75 per cent is towards prevention measures. (See table) Besides the major sources, there are several smaller organisations, national and international, involved in awareness-building and other prevention mechanisms through internal funds.

The question is — Are these massive expenditures and efforts towards prevention, and especially awareness, fulfilling their objectives? Especially when doctors, and that too of public hospitals, discriminate against HIV positive or AIDS patients? There must be hundreds of cases similar to those of Sadanand and Savitri. Christy Abraham, head of ActionAid's HIV and AIDS project in India, sums it up. “NACO's approach towards HIV/AIDS is narrow. We don't need to take AIDS as an enemy to combat. The focus should be on combating discrimination,” she says.

PK Hota, former secretary in the Union ministry of health, admits that NACO may have failed to utilise its funds properly. He claims that they have succeeded on the awareness front.

When a major chunk of the AIDS funds have gone to awareness generation, at the cost of care and treatment, how come the doctors have remained so unaware? What is the point of even doubling the funds allocated to the HIV/AIDS programme if doctors and public hospitals continue to be so brazenly insensitive and inhuman?

Active mothers raise active children

BMJ study

Parents who are active during pregnancy tend to raise more active children, finds a study published on bmj.com. Children born in autumn are also more likely to be athletic, the findings suggest. The researchers found that it wasn't biological factors at play that influenced a child's athleticism. Instead, the researchers said active pregnant women were likely to continue to exercise during their child's impressionable pre-school years. The example set by their parents influenced the children and encouraged them to get into the habit as well.

The researchers from Bristol University in England gathered data on 11- and 12-year-old children's activity over the course of at least three days. Each child was asked to wear an accelerometer for seven days, which recorded minute by minute the intensity and frequency of physical activity.

They analyzed the data against several factors, including how active mothers were during pregnancy. They found the children of those mothers who regularly exercised while pregnant ended up three to four per cent more active.

Another factor that influenced activity was season of birth. The authors say the association is difficult to explain, but may be linked to school starting age.