Bangalore NGO staff outraged at being ‘forced’ to undergo HIV tests

“Only after I submitted the HIV test report did they pay me my three months’ salary,” said 32-year-old Krishna. Even then, he says, he was paid only half his original salary. Before he quit, he worked as a field worker (or community mobiliser) with Suraksha, an NGO that works with sex workers and sexual minorities in creating awareness among ‘high risk’ categories in Bangalore Rural and Ramanagara districts.

As field staff, Krishna earns Rs4,000. His job requires him to create awareness about HIV/Aids, “I had a target of making 120 or more contacts, of which 35 to40 per cent should be convinced to undergo a clinical check up and about 10 per cent agreeing to go to the Integrated Counselling and Training Centre (ICTC) for HIV testing.”

As an MSM (male having sex with male), ‘contacts’ are people in the MSM community (hijras, bisexuals), Krishna’s goal was to get these people who fall under the ‘high risk’ category to go to ICTC and undergo an HIV test. The other two categories that fall under high risk are sex workers and IDUs (Injected Drug Users).

As an employee of an NGO that should be spearheading awareness, he says: “We were forced to undergo the test.” There was an announcement made that all employees have to undergo HIV testing and submit a copy of the report to the executive director, Maggie Thomas.

This announcement was met with opposition, primarily because, “neither was there a reason given for insisting on the test nor any action plan discussed,” says Karishma, a transgender who works as an outreach worker with Suraksha.

Under the NACO guideline, HIV testing is voluntary, it reads, “On the basis of the knowledge gained, the client makes an informed decision to either undergo HIV testing or not to undergo testing.”

However, speaking at the press conference on Saturday, staffers of Suraksha said: “There was no choice given.” Instead, they pointed out at “mental torture” that they had to go through if they delayed testing — “our salaries were withheld, some were assigned more work and leaves were refused.” They added that the executive director was given a complaint against the ‘forceful testing’ but no action was taken. In fact, members of Sandhane, a sister concern of Suraksha, sent out a letter on behalf of Suraksha staffers.

Karishma mentions her reasons for succumbing to the pressure, she says: “I have basic education, how many places will employ me?” In fact, like many, even she submitted her original report to Thomas. “I need the money to support my daughter and parents back in Bellary,” she said, clearly disturbed that she had to submit her test report. While the incident happened in April of last year, there was an enquiry report released a couple of days ago and it stood by the executive director’s decision. This upset staffers and other community groups who were present at the press conference to support the staffers. They demanded that the report be returned back to the staffers calling it “a violation of human rights”.

Last year, on World Aids Day (December 1), Karnataka became the first state to come up with a charter on the rights of people living with HIV/Aids. It was brought out by the health department and the minister stated that anyone going against the charter would be penalised. “We are working for the community,” said Karishma: “If members of the NGO, themselves, have such biases what image is it projecting.” They have their complaints, but they said, “We do need an organisation like Suraksha, but the people need to be more sensitive to the issue of the minorities.” Thomas was unavailable for comment.