In an attempt to discourage discrimination against students infected with HIV in the higher education institutes, the HRD ministry is starting several initiatives like introducing a chapter in syllabus on awareness.
The HRD ministry has asked the University Grants Commission to frame guidelines for the initiative to implement them at all the higher education institutes (HEIs) in the country. Joint secretary (higher education), ministry of HRD, R P Sisodia, said that the objective of the move is to reduce the indcidents of discrimination against the people living with the HIV/AIDS in higher education institutes. "A chapter on the awareness would be included in the existing syllabus of life science subjects and separate printed material made for other subjects offered at HEIs," Sisodia added.
The government feels with the 21 lakh people living with HIV/AIDS in the country, it requires a multi-sectoral response to address the issue. "In reducing vulnerability to HIV and mitigating its impact on those infected and affected, non-health sectors play an important and meaningful role. For this the HRD ministry and Department of AIDS joined hand to spread awareness," he said
Proper implementation of plan, ministry of HRD has roped in department of AIDS Control of union Health Ministry and States AIDS Control Societies for providing for technical assistance to make available information on HIV prevention and services, voluntary blood donation and prevention of intravenous drug use in health related courses and printed material of HEI. "There assistance would also be sought for conducting seminar, workshops and other sensitization programmes on the issue," he added.
The HEI are also instructed to to institutionalise the HIV/AIDS prevention programmes through formation of Red Ribbon Club (RCC). "Several HEI in states have already set up RCC for promoting HIV/AIDS awareness with deputation of nodal teacher at RCC. States's HEI have been instructed to form such clubs and strengthen existing ones. Funds for formation and working of RCCs have been made available to the states AIDS control societies," said an official of HRD ministry.
Meanwhile, recently the UGC also wrote to all universities to include HIV/AIDS as one of components in all the vocational courses or skill- building programmes being offered by them and to create awareness of the same among their affiliated colleges.
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