HIV positive people continue to face social boycott and discrimination in many parts of the country. The ordeal of 49 such girls in Surat, one of Gujarat's most industrialised and prosperous cities, clearly underscores the prevalence of such discrimination and social rejection. Last year, 49 HIV positive girls had to go through the harrowing experience when the villagers protested against 29 of these girls being admitted to the government primary school. Despite this incident receiving media attention, things did not change for them at all. Even on Independence Day, these girls faced the similar ignominy.
