Interacting with society
during various Marriage Ceremonies, I realised
that
the common people still lack awareness & knowledge about HIV
and AIDS. I was attending a marriage ceremony of daughter of
one our party worker in my constituency. It was satisfying
to see the Happiness on his face and the joy amongst family
& friends. All were very enthusiastic. But six months later,
he came to my office and was crying his heart out. After
consoling him a bit I asked about the reasons of his
anxiety. To my shock, his pregnant daughter was diagnosed
HIV + during a routine Blood Test. Further it was also
clarified that she got the infection from her husband. This
sad story of a helpless father and daughter's journey from
Dreams to Tears, shook my soul and the question as to
"Why shouldn't Pre Marriage Aids Test be made
compulsory ?" alarmed me.
--- Satej D. Patil ( M.L.A.
Karveer,Maharashtra State)
www.satejpatil.com
After this incidence Shri
Satej Patil moved a calling attention motion over this issue
in the Maharashtra State Assembly. As a step towards passing
a bill based on suggestions given by Shri Patil, State
Government set up a 25 Member committee to invite
suggestions
and
objection from people. This Committee headed by Health
Minister, Sou. Vimaltai Mundada will collect information and
interact with people, collect feedback and thus prepare
grounds for passing of the law. In the recent meeting of
this committee all the M.L.A.s were of the opinion that a
law be enacted to make Pre Marriage Aids Test Compulsory.
However certain N.G.O.s opposed this movement stating that
people are not yet ready to accept a positive person in
Society. A test may save an innocent life but would at the
same time leave the already affected vulnerable to
discrimination, desertion, physical and mental harassment.
This depicts the negative approach of the representative of
the participating N.G.O.s
Today 52% of the total AIDS
affected people belong to age group of 18 to 40. Today's
youth is the only constituent of a powerful nation, but
number of youths falling pray to the clutches of AIDS is on
high rise. Marring a person affected with AIDS caused
complications in the life of that Girl and also threatens
life of her child. In our society girls are more prone to
deceit then boys when it comes to HIV / AIDS. An Indian girl
who preserves her Chastity & Morals for her life, does the
society has any right to play with her life.
Thus the only solution to
solve this problem is to create awareness amongst people and
join them in this campaign. Further we also believe to raise
the knowledge & responsibility of the coming generation to
such a level that Law or no Law, any young Indian will not
marry before getting the Pre-Marriage HIV test done.
TO JOIN US IN THIS MISSION
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