Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Discrimination of HIV kids…

It is shocking the way the children are being treated in a school in Kottayam (Kerala). When I say children I mean both the HIV infected and the normal children. The reasons of parents sound cruel but the apprehensions need be understood in socio-cultural context. I recall even the most advanced societies dealt the disease in similar manner in the initial period. If you recall one Basket ball player in USA (magic Johnson, I recollect) was discriminated and had to quit (I have a vague recollection I could be wrong. I recall photo of his bleeding hand). Also many celebrities even hid the disease, like Rock Hudson. The point I am making here is the Metro based media and TV channels should stop being judgmental about the parents and desist accusing them of some serious misdemeanor. They may not be as cruel as is being made out. It is easy to pass judgment and show oneself as some kind of saviors in TV studios.

This blogger wants to know how many HIV infected students are studying in ‘prestigious schools’ or for that matter any of the schools in rich neighborhoods. They don’t even allow poorer sections, in clear violation of rules. Further they get huge money from abroad in the name of AIDS (it has become quite a chic disease to deal, a burgeoning cottage industry) why is the money not spend to take care of these children. This blogger suspects that the money is wasted on high profile events and photo ops at the expense of grass root work. This blogger tried his best to get the data of number of children suffering from AIDS in this country and how are they being counseled. I could get nothing. It is a shame. The shame is nearer home of many of those who are taking high moral grounds, care to admit.

This blogger empathize with the HIV infected children, as also apprehensive parents of other children…