Anu P and Sharmila A lost their parents to AIDS. With that, they lost their chance of getting an education. While Anu’s grandfather was told not to send her to school, Sharmila stopped going after she was ostracised by classmates and teachers.
These children find a voice in the Human Rights Watch report Future Forsaken: Abuses Against Children Affected by HIV/AIDS in India, which will be formally released at the Naz Foundation in Delhi on August 2.
“Children are nowhere in the radar screen of the Indian government’s policy on AIDS and are routinely turned away from schools, clinics and orphanages because they or their parents are HIV+,” says author Zama Coursen-Neff.
Coursen-Neff, who travelled across India in November and December last year, says most of the HIV+ people she met faced discrimination at hospitals and clinics. "Most people living with HIV in India say they have never been physically examined by a doctor while others are terrified of getting tested for fear of discrimination," she says.
According to the report, children who have lost parents to HIV/AIDS risk abuse because they are often denied education, are in danger of becoming homeless, forced into child labour or exploited. Girls are more likely to be pulled out of school to care for a sick family member.
{{/usCountry}}According to the report, children who have lost parents to HIV/AIDS risk abuse because they are often denied education, are in danger of becoming homeless, forced into child labour or exploited. Girls are more likely to be pulled out of school to care for a sick family member.
{{/usCountry}}Unfortunate
The Human Rights Watch report paints a grim picture of children living with HIV/AIDS in India. It says:
** Children nowhere on radar of Government's policy on AIDS
** Turned away from schools, clinics and orphanages
** Children, particularly girls, who’ve lost parents to HIV/AIDS risk abuse