This Article is From Apr 07, 2009

NDTV impact: Relief for AIDS victims

Jalore, Rajasthan: A Kambha village resident, Bhanwari Devi's husband, Sher Singh worked in a hotel in Belgaum, Karnataka. He had left for Karantaka as a young boy. He died of AIDS 9 years ago when he was in the prime of his life, leaving behind a 19-year-old widow and two children.

Forgotten and neglected, nobody realised that Bhanwari too was infected with the virus. She learned she was positive almost 8 years after his death. Struggling to make ends meet Bhanwari Devi told NDTV she wants nothing but two square meals a day for herself and her children.

After NDTV highlighted her plight, she now has a job under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme as an AIDS victim. She is too weak to do hard labour, so she has been employed to serve water to others. ''I had no food. My children were hungry. I sold everything to feed my children. My husband died and left us destitute. But after that lady came, we have now got work and I earn enough at least to feed my children,'' said Bhanwari Devi.

NDTV has highlighted not just Bhanwari's case but of five others. AIDS victims like Bhanwari in Jalore district, who were receiving practically no benefits from government schemes meant for the poorest of the poor are now getting all the benefits. ''A few days ago, an NDTV reporter came here and highlighted the case of five AIDS victims. We have directed officials in NREGS to give them lighter jobs like arranging for water.

AIDS patients are given lighter tasks to do so that they earn a living,'' said Rohit Kumar, Jalore District Collector.''After NDTV came here, the government sat up and took notice. The Collector has ordered that we get basic work and medicines. We thank NDTV,'' said Jagdish Kumar, JNP Plus, Network for AIDS victims.

Most of these victims now have employment and access to basic medicine, their lives may not have changed dramatically after NDTV highlighted their story but a difference has been made.
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