Legal Aid Cell to work for welfare of HIV+, sex workers, transgenders

Legal Aid Cell to work for welfare of HIV+, sex workers, transgenders

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Nov 26, 2012: The Legal Aid Cell, which comprises 5 advocates, will work for the welfare of HIV positives, sex workers, and transgenders.

SP Changappa, former president of the Mangalore Bar Association, said at a peer convention organized by the Hongirana Network of Positive People today that the Legal Aid Cell will help solve the various problems that the group faces. Stating that India has over 3,000 laws, he said that there isn’t a single law to protect the interests of sex workers, HIV positives, and transgenders. Although the union ministry of law and justice had drafted HIV/AIDS bill in 2007, it has not yet received the president’s approval. Once the bill is passed into law, problems faced by HIV positives, transgenders, and sex workers will be solved.

 

 

 

Mr. Changappa urged HIV positives, sex workers, and transgenders to contact the Legal Aid Cell to get assistance. Kishore, district AIDS control officer, spoke on HIV/AIDS and other issues.

Speaking on the issue, K. N. Vijayaprakash, CEO of the Zilla Panchayat, said that as many as 6,255 HIV positive cases were reported in DK from 2007 – 1010. While the percentage of HIV positives in the state is 0.69 percent, DK has 0.30% cases.

Further, he said that he has instructed all departments to extend benefits of schemes to HIV positives, sex workers, and transgenders, adding that the ZP has already distributed loans to several HIV positives so that they can start their own businesses. He urged HIV positives, transgenders, and sex workers to make use of government schemes and develop the spirit of entrepreneurship.