Imphal, June 03: As part of the Nation-wide campaign for a special legislation to address the issue of HIV/AIDS infected/affected people, a signature campaign has begun in Bishnupur district of from today.

The signature campaign being launched under the joint aegis of Hope for All, a Community based-organisation and Lawyers Forum with support from Dedicated Peoples' Union, Kumbi kicked off from Kumbi Bazar of Bishnupur district today.

The campaign would continue till June 10 covering the population of all the injecting drug users (IDUs) and female commercial sex workers as well as lawyers in Bishnupur district.

Signatures, thus collected, would be submitted to Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Opposition leader LK Advani for taking up necessary measures.

Addressing a press conference in connection with the launching of the signature campaign at Kumbi Bazar today, secretary of Lawyers' Group Kh Tarunkumar observed that inspite of being the largest democratic country in the world, India has not been able to ensure democratic rights to all its citizens.

HIV/AIDS affected/infected persons are also Indian citizens.

Yet there has been no legislation to protect the rights of the HIV/AIDS patients in the country.

So, there is the need to mobilise the people towards ensuring a special legislation for the HIV/AIDS infected/affected population in the country, Tarunkumar noted.

The signature campaign is being launched as part of the Nation-wide campaign to demand enactment of the HIV/AIDS Bill, 2005 into an Act and to take up the issue in the Parliament and exert necessary pressure on the authorities concerned in this regard, Tarunkumar explained.

Lawyers' Group president Advocate Kangabam Rabei pointed out that enactment of the HIV/AIDS Bill, 2005 into an Act with the consent of the President of India would give new hopes and courage to millions of people living with HIV/AIDS in India.

Explaining that the Bill has some special provisions for the protection of the rights of the HIV/AIDS infected/affected people, Rabei pointed out that section IV of the Bill has laid down provisions to stop discrimination against HIV/AIDS infected/affected people in work place, public place, family, educational institution, etc.

Moreover, as per the provisions in chapter VII of the Bill, carrying of syringe by an IDU under the Harm Reduction programme would be made legal, he added.

A spokesperson of Hope for All contended that enactment of the Bill into an Act would help in reducing the rate of HIV transmission from one person to another to a large extent.

Among other difficulties, discrimination is the biggest problem being faced by HIV/AIDS affected/infected people.

In order to reduce the rate of discrimination, law has forbidden discrimination against them.

Yet there is the need to sensitize the masses that any act of discrimination against the HIV/AIDS infected/affected is a punishable offence under the law, the spokesperson said.

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