Maharashtra Herald, 13th April 2000

`We are HIV positive, but not outcasts'

"THE day I knew I was HIV positive, I was greatly shocked, but the fact has changed my life for the better", said Mohan, as activist with the Maharashtra Network for positive People (MNPP), an organization working with HIV positive people.

"But the realization changed the direction of my life. Earlier, I used to be wrapped up in my own world with my own concerns. But now I know that I only have a few years to live, and so I have to do something for others. Thus in a sense, having the virus has made me happy", by revealed.

He was speaking at a workshop, for representatives of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and media persons, organized by Community Aid and Sponsorship Program (CASP), a Pune based NGO, in the city on Wednesday. "Don't call us patients, just because we are HIV positive. You can do so once we have AIDS", he urged the audience.

Mohan made a strong plea for giving gainful employment to the HIV positive "Don't give us help, but try to make us independent, "he said. Emphasizing the need for spreading correct information and creating awareness about HIV and AIDS, he pointed out that there were more misunderstandings about the disease. He also urged the media to create a proper environment in the country to ensure social acceptance and tolerance for HIV infected people.

Rakesh, another activist of the MNPP, stressed that people should become more receptive to this idea, and they should not get shocked if they were told that someone was HIV positive. "The positive aspect should be emphasized and people should be told that HIV does not mean death, and that an HIV positive person still gets about eight to ten years to live", he stated.

Issues of confidentially and the need for proper counselling were also discussed at the workshop. Later, speaking at a panel discussion, Magassaysay Awardee, Dr.Banoo Coyaji, emphasized that testing for pre-marriage HIV testing should be made mandatory. Others who spoke on the occasion included Rajendra Pandharpure, President of Pune Union of working Journalists (PUWJ), Sunil Sukthankar, film maker and Dr.Neelam Gorhe, noted activist.