UGC policy goes against India's stand on HIV

Activists welcome NACO's promise to address the issue of compulsory HIV screening for foreign students terming it discriminatory

Activists welcome NACO's promise to address the issue of compulsory HIV screening for foreign students terming it discriminatory

Foreign students shouldn't have to go through an HIV test to get admitted to Indian universities, the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) said yesterday. Reacting to MiD DAY's front page story on Wednesday 'Pune Univ's HIV shocker', top officials of India's apex AIDS control body said they would take up the matter of discrimination against foreign students and subsequent deportations with the University Grants Commission (UGC) officials.

Mandatory tests
Every foreign student has tou00a0 be compulsorily tested for HIV and is considered for admission only if he or she tests negative, according to UGC guidelines. However, Indian students are exempt from these tests. University of Pune (UoP) has been carrying out these tests for several years and HIV positive students are referred for deportation.

"This discrimination is against India's stand on HIV," said Mayank Agrawal, joint director, NACO. "On one hand, we have a strong National AIDS Control Policy, which gives equal rights to HIV positive people. On the other hand, we refuse the right to admission in universities on the basis of a foreign student's HIV status. This needs to be addressed."

Dr Damodar Bachani, deputy director general, NACO said the Indian Army had tried to introduce mandatory testing of soldiers before recruitment, but it dropped the idea after NACO intervened. "The Army decided not to go ahead with the testing after we explained our position. We shall write a letter to the UGC and I'm sure things will be sorted out," he said.

Despite repeated SMSes messages, UoP Vice-Chancellor Dr Arun Adsool remained unavailable for comment.
When MiD DAY contacted UGC chairperson Dr Sukhdeo Thorat, he said, "I am in Kathmandu. I will be able to comment on this subject only after I return to India."

Steps ahead
MiD DAY also tried to contact Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, but he was unwell and couldn't be reached. Union Health Secretary and NACO director K Sujatha Rao was busy in meetings and remained unavailable for comment.

"I think NACO has some sensitivity, it's is a great decision to take up matters with the UGC. But there should be more co-ordination between government departments. While one works towards mainstreaming people living with HIV/AIDS, others see to be ignorant," said K K Abraham, who spearheads the Indian Network of Positive People.

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