61 HIV-positive students thrown out of Indian schools over the last 3 years

61 HIV-positive students thrown out of Indian schools over the last 3 years

2011-04-21 11:37:04 GMT+7 (ICT)

NEW DELHI (BNO NEWS) -- At least 61 HIV-positive students have been thrown out of Indian schools over the last 3 years, despite AIDS awareness drives, the Times of India reported Thursday.

The figures expose that children infected with HIV continue to face discrimination, even though advocacy programs are being conducted to sensitize principals and teachers to ensure that students with HIV/AIDS are treated with dignity and respect.

The government said, quoting the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), that the children infected by HIV were mainly from Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Kerala, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. The Gujarat education department has already issued a directive warning of stern action against the school involved in such cases, stating that a similar incident would immediately cancel the recognition of such school.

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