A survey conducted by the J&K AIDS Control and Prevention Society revealed that there are 400 active homosexuals in Jammu and Kashmir.
SRINAGAR: Homosexuality is coming out in the open in the conservative Jammu and Kashmir. A survey conducted by the J&K AIDS Control and Prevention Society revealed that there are 400 active homosexuals in Jammu and Kashmir.
Surprisingly, the Kashmir province has the highest number of homosexuals in the state. As per the survey, Jammu region has 100 active homosexuals while the number is 300 in the Kashmir valley.
“The study was conducted a few months before with the help of some non governmental organisations. It was conducted in the two regions of the state. Ladakh region was not covered under the survey,” MA Wani, project director of J&K AIDS Control and Prevention Society, told DNA.
Alarmed by the new development, the AIDS Control Society is launching massive programme to educate homosexuals in a bid to prevent the HIV infection among the same sex couples.
“So far there has been no HIV infection among these homosexuals. Some of them, however, are suffering from sexually transmitted diseases which could be dangerous at times. Therefore, we have decided to launch a massive programme to target the homosexuals and save them from HIV infection,” said Wani.
What is more interesting is that the AIDS Control Society is roping in some of the homosexuals to help in spreading awareness among the people.
“We want to train some of the homosexuals about the awareness programme. They will then educate other homosexuals about the HIV infections and the methods to be adopted to save themselves from the infection,” said Wani.
The J&K government is also planning to give some incentives to the homosexual educators so that the awareness programme is successful.
“These people will be given honourarium which will range from Rs1000 to Rs1500 per month,” said Wani.
Jammu and Kashmir has the lowest HIV infection prevalence in the country, but the government is not taking any chances. According to official figures, there are 1,130 HIV infected patients of which 95 are AIDS patients.
“We have had 38 AIDS related deaths since 2000 when we started our programmes. We are trying hard to create awareness among the people,” said Wani.
h_ishfaq@dnaindia.net
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