'No compromise on protecting HIV kids' rights'

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a relief to five HIV positive children facing boycott in a school in Pamapady in Kottayam, Kerala Education Minister MA Baby on Monday said the government was not prepared to make any compromise on their right to pursue studies in the same school.

"Even if all the other children left the school, the government would ensure that these five children would continue their studies in the same school," Baby told a press meet here.

It was the duty of any civil society to defend the human rights of HIV affected persons. It would be unbecoming of a state like Kerala which had achieved cent per cent literacy and social progress to deny the rights of the HIV victims, he said.

A meeting of senior officials of Education and Health departments would be convened soon to discuss the issue and find a way out. The matter would be discussed with Opposition Leader Oommen Chandy and Health Minister PK Sreemathi also.

The Minister recalled that last year the issue was settled at a meeting of school authorities, parent teachers association and politicians paving the way for the five children to continue their studies. It was unfortunate that the problems cropped with the commencement of the current academic year.

The five children of Mar Dionysius Primary School in Pamapady began facing problems with the parents of other children objecting to their presence in the school.