Date:12/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/12/stories/2008121257840200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

A positive action plan for HIV/AIDS Workplace policy

Special Correspondent

CII has already roped in a number of companies to implement it

CHENNAI: An action plan to guide implementation of a HIV/AIDS Workplace policy in the corporate sector saw its beginnings on Thursday at an interaction organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry here.

Some of the immediate issues flagged off during discussions among CII and industry representatives and HIV/AIDS sector activists included the need to identify networks of peer groups to offer specialised skills training within an organisation, streamline referrals by doctors across the private and public sectors, and build capacity to handle HIV in the workplace.

Sparking off the discussions, Nalini Krishnan, Co-chair, Corporate Social Responsibility, CII (Southern Region) and director, The Hindu, said it was important for all industries and corporates to focus on the issue, considering the staggering impact HIV has on the community and industry.

A significant percentage of the infected were in the 15- 49 age group- the most productive years, she said. It is necessary to draw up policies and mechanisms to implement them in order to protect employees, support them, reduce stigma and discrimination, she added.

The CII has already roped in a number of companies to implement an HIV-workplace policy, but follow-ups about actual implementation would have to be conducted.

Proposed Bill

Lorraine Misquith, advocacy officer, Lawyers Collective, detailed various aspects of the proposed HIV/AIDS Bill.

The Bill was sent back from the Union Law Ministry in a watered-down version, but will be discussed further to present a more rights-based approach.

The constitutional safeguards available to people living with HIV/AIDS were limited to redress in the public sector, and not in the private sector, where a substantial part of the PLHA are employed, and also receive care from.

In the framework of the Bill are clauses involving discrimination, confidentiality, access to treatment, risk reduction, information and grievance redressal within the workplace. Any organisation that employs over 20 people is required to appoint a complaints officer to deal with complaints from PLHA on a daily basis and act independently to settle complaints within stipulated periods.

It also seeks to establish a National HIV/AIDS Authority which will be responsible for the implementation of the provisions.

Jaya Sreedhar, editor, Internews, presented an overview of the HIV/AIDS policy in the light of the National AIDS Control Programme - Phase 3.

Rs.11,000 crore allotment

The primary goal was to reverse the epidemic in India over the next five years by integrating programmes for prevention, care and support.

A sum of over Rs.11,000 crore have been allotted for this purpose. She also suggested ways in which corporates can involve themselves, through implementation of the HIV/AIDS policy and also through CSR initiatives.

Thiagarajan of PepsiCo India Holdings detailed the company’s initiatives in implementing a comprehensive HIV/AIDS policy in the workplace. Shyamala Ashok, consultant and Head, CSR, CII-SR, also spoke.