Imphal, January 16 2009: THE TWO-DAY Consultation Meet on the Impact of HIV/AIDS on Women and Children sponsored by Manipur State Women Commission has adopted a seven-page list of recommendations on the concluding day today.

Considering the vulnerability of the disease to women and children, the consultation meet has recommended various steps for women and children related to separate implementing agencies in the state which include the state government, Manipur Legislators' Forum, Maipur Women Commission, Manipur AIDS Control Society, Departments of Law, Social Welfare and Industries, Institute of Cooperative Management, Khadi and Village Industry, banks and NGOs etc.

It was also recommended that the Manipur Legislators' Forum on HIV/AIDS expand its membership from seven to a minimum of 15 to accommodate young and dynamic MLAs who are keen to do something worthwhile. The Legislators' Forum has also been urged to take initiative for revision of Manipur State AIDS policy 1996 which is the first state policy in the country and to overcome legal barriers in enacting an Act in the Assembly and also to the instances of human rights violations, discrimination and stigmatisation of people living with HIV/AIDS.

It further recommended formulating a legislation for making training on HIV/AIDS mandatory for appearing in the HSLC examination as well as for appointment of school and college teachers, besides banning any kind of discrimination and stigmatisation of women and children living with HIV/AIDS at the time of admission in educational institutions and workplaces.

The State government has been recommended to earmark budget exclusively for vocational training and income generation activities of women particularly for widows and HIV positive women besides allocating budget to institute of cooperative management, khadi and village industry and village industries as well.

It also recommended that the state authority amend the existing norms for utilisation of Local Area Development Fund of MLAs/MPs so as to enable the MLAs and the MPs to spend 10 percent of the fund on HIV/AIDS prevention activities in their own constituencies under their own supervision.

The government has been urged to provide adequate fund to Manipur Legislators' Forum so as to enable the Assembly Speaker to implement the work plan of the Manipur Legislators Forum without depending on outside budget which may be discontinued any time.

On the other hand, Manipur State AIDS Control Society has been urged to provide the budget required for research study on the economic impact of HIV/AIDS on women and children in Manipur besides making special effort for capacity building and training of HIV positive women and widows.It also recommends to appoint two members from positive women and widows groups in the governing body and executive body of MSACS.

Mention may be made here that Manipur Assembly Speaker Dr Sapam Budhichandra who is the chairman of the MLFA formally inaugurated the consultation meet in presence of many experts in the field of the dreaded disease today.

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