State government fails to keep its promises
HIV +ve, Mr Manipur Pradipkumar waiting for due recognition
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, June 12 2012: "Even if I die, I will not die due to AIDS but from stigma and discrimination meted out to people living with HIV and AIDS" .

The announcement of the Government of Manipur to provide job opportunities to 209 sportspersons of the state in recognition of their outstanding achievements at the occasion of "Shanaroishingi Numit" on December 30, 2009, has turned out to be nothing but sham even though appointment orders not only been issued but also handed over to the selected sportspersons.

Mr Manipur title holder, Kh Pradipkumar, an HIV positive, who was among the 209 sportspersons against whose names the government had issued appointment order, is yet to provide any job till date.

The Government has not only gone back on its promises but also forsaken a living legend like Pradipkumar.

In an exclusive interview with Hueiyen Lanpao, Pradipkumar informed that time and again he had approached the concerned authority in connection with the promise of the state government to provide a suitable Government job to him, but always turned down and discriminated on account of his HIV status.

Pradipkumar pointed out that of all the 209 sportspersons who were given appointment orders on December 30, 2009, he is the only one placed under contract basis for a year.

Others have been appointed on regular basis.

Pradipkumar informed that after he won silver medal in the Mister India contest held in April 2010, he again approached the Chief Minister of Manipur to remind the latter of his earlier promises but only he received only a faint reply.

With all hopes shattered, Pradipkumar expressed unhappiness over the alleged discriminatory attitude of the state government and said that he is very depressed and desire to fade away from public notice.

With Manipur State AIDS Control Society (MACS) announcing him as the Grand Ambassador, Kh Pradipkumar was given a monthly income of Rs 6000.After complaining against the meager amount which could not even meet the expenses of his required nutritional support, the amount was increased to Rs 8000 .

Unfortunately, the monthly salary has not been sanctioned for the last two months.

On the contrary, the officials of MACS have questioned him over his role as a Grand Ambassador, Pradipkumar said.

"The works I have done as a Grand Ambassador, the photographs taken, the documentations recorded have been completely forgotten", he lamented, adding that there is even apprehensions on his part that the officials concerned must be using his clipping and documentations for their own private gains.

In spite of the discriminations meted out to him, Kh Pradipkumar is still hopeful of participating in the Mr Universe contest due to be held sometime in November this year.

But he is yet to start his practice session as participation in such an event would require lot of financial investment.

In this connection, Pradipkumar informed that so far no one has come to his help and in such a situation 'one can rely upon one's own family' .

Nonetheless, Pradipkumar is confident that he would be get the Mr Universe title since he would be competing among groups of his height.

It may be noted that Pradipkumar secured 8th position in the Mr World contest held in Russia recently where he competed with competitors with sharp height differences.

Having his last words, Pradipkumar said, "Even if I die, I will not die due to AIDs but from stigma and discrimination meted out to people living with HIV and AIDS" .

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