Maharashtra poor score for HIV tainted schoolchildren

In the past five years, 112 HIV-positive children have faced boycott in classrooms, opposition from parents of other children and refused promotion to the next class, besides other forms of discrimination in schools across Maharashtra.

The state holds the dubious distinction of having reported the maximum incidents of discrimination against these children between 2009 and 2010 in India.

Many such disturbing facts have emerged from a dossier on children living with HIV and incidence of discrimination at schools, prepared by the volunteers of Centre for Advocacy and Research (CFAR), Pune.

Sanyogita Dhamdhere, a member of the research team, said that the report is based on incidents reported in the media, statistics shared by government officials and data collected and responses received by the organisation through interactions and intervention programmes going on in affected areas.

“Of all states, Maharashtra reported maximum incidents between 2005 and 2010, with Pune and Latur districts being the worst affected. In fact, instead of showing a declining trend, the incidents were at a peak between 2009 and 2010 when three major outbreaks of such cases were reported. Through interaction, the common reason for discrimination against these children was the fear that they would spread the infection to others,” she said.

In all, 45 incidents of discrimination were reported across the country and 61 students were expelled from schools. The five states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka and Orissa alone accounted for 65% of incidents of discrimination. Of these, Maharashtra accounted for 10 incidents in which one student was expelled and 112 faced discrimination. Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal reported eight incidents each, while Karnataka and Orissa reported three incidents each.

“Six incidents have got reported after the implementation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009, came into force. The Act safeguards the right of children to education with no bias. Instead of openly expelling students, the discrimination happens through ignoring them in classes, asking them to sit or eat separately or untouchable-like behaviour,” said CFAR state programme manager, Pankaj Kumar Bedi. Even big cities like Pune, New Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Chennai are named in the dossier as cities where HIV-positive children faced discrimination.

The report has been sent to various ministries to persuade the government to come up with a circular to specify for non-discrimination towards any kind of disadvantaged child in schools, besides notifying rules under the RTE to ensure no child will be denied admission.

Some measures suggested in the report to combat stigma against HIV-positive children in schools include strengthening red ribbon clubs in schools, carrying out orientation of school students, sensitisation of parents and counselling sessions through parent teacher association (PTA).