<p>The callousness of the state social welfare department has resulted in the ostracisation of a family of five in a Rajasthan village.<br /><br />The identity of an HIV-infected family member was disclosed in a letter sent by the state government.<br /><br />Now the family, comprising an HIV-positive husband, his wife and three children, has been displaced from their house.<br /><br />Vikram Sharma of the Network for People Living With HIV/AIDs said the problem started with the HIV-affected husband applying for benefits under a state government scheme.<br />“He sent an application to the state’s social justice and welfare department. </p>.<p>They sent a reply on October 19. It was not in an envelope and had been sent on a sticker pasted on the letter itself,” said Sharma. He said this mode of communication, which gives away the privacy of an HIV-positive person, is against rules.<br /><br />After the letter reached the post office, several people read it as it was open.<br />“The news of him being HIV-infected spread and since then, he has been ostracised,” said Sharma.<br /><br />“Nobody speaks to him and his wife, two sons and a daughter. He worked as a labourer. But now people have stopped hiring him. There have been days when the family has gone without any food,” he said.<br /><br />The family has also been barred from attending social functions, and even buying grocery from village shops. They live in Rolsabsar village in Sikar, but have no home now.<br />“The identity of an HIV-infected patient cannot be disclosed. We plan to register a police complaint against officers responsible for negligence,” said Sharma.<br /></p>
<p>The callousness of the state social welfare department has resulted in the ostracisation of a family of five in a Rajasthan village.<br /><br />The identity of an HIV-infected family member was disclosed in a letter sent by the state government.<br /><br />Now the family, comprising an HIV-positive husband, his wife and three children, has been displaced from their house.<br /><br />Vikram Sharma of the Network for People Living With HIV/AIDs said the problem started with the HIV-affected husband applying for benefits under a state government scheme.<br />“He sent an application to the state’s social justice and welfare department. </p>.<p>They sent a reply on October 19. It was not in an envelope and had been sent on a sticker pasted on the letter itself,” said Sharma. He said this mode of communication, which gives away the privacy of an HIV-positive person, is against rules.<br /><br />After the letter reached the post office, several people read it as it was open.<br />“The news of him being HIV-infected spread and since then, he has been ostracised,” said Sharma.<br /><br />“Nobody speaks to him and his wife, two sons and a daughter. He worked as a labourer. But now people have stopped hiring him. There have been days when the family has gone without any food,” he said.<br /><br />The family has also been barred from attending social functions, and even buying grocery from village shops. They live in Rolsabsar village in Sikar, but have no home now.<br />“The identity of an HIV-infected patient cannot be disclosed. We plan to register a police complaint against officers responsible for negligence,” said Sharma.<br /></p>
