House approves bill on HIV, AIDS

The House on Tuesday gave its nod to the vital bill that ensures equal rights to the people affected by HIV and AIDS in getting treatment, admissions in educational institutions and jobs.

Even as the controversial clause that promises access to treatment to the infected only “as far as possible”, remains, Union health minister J.P. Nadda said the government “stands committed for free treatment of HIV patients”. The the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) (Prevention and Control) Bill, 2017, was passed by the Rajya Sabha on March 21.

Maintaining that the Bill was “people centric”, the minister said it strengthened the rights of the people infected with HIV. “It is not the case that before coming of this bill, these people (infected with HIV ) were not empowered. But with the passage of this bill they will get more powers,” he added. The Bill lists various grounds on which discrimination against HIV positive persons and those living with them is prohibited.

Asserting that there would be no discrimination against persons infected with HIV, Mr Nadda said “whosoever who does not adhere to the provisions of the Bill will be penalised. There would also be civil and criminal proceedings against them”.

Legal action, Mr Nadda said, would be initiated against the persons for creating an environment against the HIV patients. “Action would be also taken against those who come between the implementation of the provisions of the proposed Bill.”

The legislation has provisions to safeguard the property rights of HIV positive people, the health minister said, adding that every HIV infected or affected person below the age of 18 years has the right to reside in a shared household and enjoy the facilities of the household.