Supported BJP earlier at a time of political crisis, says Baba Ramdev

Celebrated Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev who is also the face of Patanjali Ayurvedic Products is known for wearing his personal opinions on his sleeves. In an exclusive interview to at his Ashram in Haridwar, Ramdev speaks his heart out on issues like demonetization, Naveen Patnaik, plans to go global among others. Excerpts from the interview:

Manish Kumar

1. You have been holding numerous yoga sessions in different states for more than a decade. How you see Orissa from your perspective?

Ramdev: I have been visiting Orissa for the last 10 years. The state is the most gifted region in the country in terms of natural resources while it is a very important site in terms of religion. People of Orissa are honest and hard working. There are few who opine that Oriyas work harder when living outside their state, which is a false opinion. The land of Jagannath, possessing religious importance is also perceived as a state which has huge potential.

Also in our fight on economic freedom (against MNCs) Orissa has proved to be a spearheading state which is fighting hard to wipe out the Multi-National Companies (MNCs). We expect soon we can wipe out the MNCs from Orissa.

2: Different chief ministers have extended their support to you in the past either by offering lands to you for opening schools, hospitals or yoga training sessions. How much support you got from Naveen Patnaik?

Ramdev: Naveen ji is a very good person at heart. We maintain cordial relation with him. You must have seen in the past we never had any issues with each other. We also hope any future endeavors in Orissa are likely to be fruitful.

3: Any offers from Orissa government yet for land or support for your mission/business?

Ramdev: We have till now not talked on the issue but I hope if we would plan something we expect we can get good response from the government.

4: Mostly it is seen that the BJP-ruled states have extended you more support while not many non-BJP states have come forth. Do you think there is discrimination from the other side?

Ramdev: No. Recently Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav gave us 400 acres of land in a prime location in Noida. Our mission is not political, it is beyond that. Our mission is about giving the country economic freedom and all those who love their country are with us. Patanjali is a brand of the country, I am the unpaid brand ambadassor of Patanjali, Acharya Balakrishna is the unpaid CEO/MD of the same. If there is anything in the country which truly is a model of charity and trusteeship it is Patanjali.

5: You once started an agitation against the black money at the Ram Leela Grounds in New Delhi before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. Do you think your agitation has brought tangible changes on the ground?   

Ramdev: Our main three objectives were black money, fight against corruption and revival of the corrupt system. For the implementation on ground levels, everything takes time. An agitation could be constructed in 10 days but bringing changes through an agitation at ground levels can take 10 years.

So accomplishing these three things would take some time but the intentions of Modi ji are clear and correct. He is working hard towards it.

6: Recently you alleged a scam in the demonetization process. How you seek to resolve the crisis due to demonetisation?

Ramdev: For making demonetization a success, we need to focus on four areas-firstly, there should not be any corruption in the banking system, secondly, RBI plays its entrusted responsibility honestly, thirdly, the taxation system works properly where it has to ensure the corrupt are not shielded and the honest common man is not harassed and lastly we need to change the attitude of the people.  

7: How you see the whole demonetization process?

Ramdev: Modiji with the right intentions has taken a very courageous and historic decision. But everything the Prime Minister alone cannot do. The system also needs to work in the correct path. If the above mentioned four segments work in tandem and with honesty, demonetization is going to be a success. Modiji is involved in making the system work properly. There are some challenges at the implementation level but slowly the issues are being resolved. But I feel problems of the problem due to demonetization are likely to persist even after December 30 this year.

8: It been a long time now since Patanjali came into existence. With the passage of time how you have tried to improve the quality of your products?

Ramdev: For the quality control three components are of paramount importance-raw materials, advanced world class technology and testing. Our raw materials are 100 per cent genuine and of high quality. We use world class advanced scientific equipment worth crores. We have around 200 scientists working with us. For testing our products we first try on ourselves before bringing in into the market. In India in the sector of Ayrurdevic production no one can mach to the level of infrastructure, equipment and skills of what we have.

9: But despite that allegations are sometime labeled against you on different fronts, the recent one includes court order of fines for Patanjali for misleading advertisements. How you see such charges?

Ramdev:  In the advertisement sector we are used to confrontations on an everyday basis. As far as the court order is concerned, we would appeal to the higher courts against it. If any small politician or individual with vested interests with such cases tries to lock horn with us we are not going to tow down.

10: With whom you face confrontations in the advertisement sector?

Ramdev: With the advertisement agencies. Representatives of the MNCs are sitting there. There are many rivals against them. I want to ask why there is hardly a single brand in India who had been able to rise against the MNCs in the last 70 years. It is because either they are suppressed or they are bought.

11: Are you planning to take your Ayurvedic products to the international markets too?

Ramdev: By 2017 we are planning to go global to sell our products to the international population. In Nagpur our production house where a part of it would be exclusively be dedicated to making products for exports is most likely to start functioning by next year. We are not focusing on few countries, we have eyed to export our products to across the globe.

12: Currently your products have entered the supermarkets through stores owned by Apollo, Future Group and Reliance. What would be your future steps to reach out to more people?

Ramdev: We have now entered in almost all modern popular chains. We are planning to have a full fledged extension now. We are now all set to venture into the online marketing through e-commerce sites in a big way to sell our products online by 2017.

13: You have been offering 500 products including recently releases Shishu products. What products are lined up next?

Ramdev: We are about to emerge in a big way into the dairy sector. We have aimed to launch out brand of textiles in the country by next year. In the textile sector we are planning to sell yoga wears, all Indian traditional wears, kids, ladies and gentswear and fashionable textiles.  

14: You have been teaching yoga for more than a decade. Do you see a rise in the number of your followers for yoga or it is stagnant/declined?

Ramdev: Many folds. And why it would not. What we do is directly connected to the people. Whatever we do either yoga or ayurvedic products, all are directly related and connected to the people. If you connect to the people it is definitely going to form a bond with them.

15: How you see the magnitude of your endevours in the next days to come?

Ramdev: In the next five years we are going to give direct employment to around 5 lakh people and connect around 5 crore farmers directly with us. And in terms of production it could reach to such a level that among the 125 crore people in Induia, all would be using atleast one of our products. This is the likely connectivity of people in the next five years. We have already reached half of the target now.

  

16: You have proposed the government of a Vedic Education Board in the country. Do you think this is feasible in the current scenario?

Ramdev: At the government level, these things are little bit tough. These are done through spirit. We are reframing from using the word ‘vedic’ now as it could give a false impression. We want an ‘Indian Education Board’ which could be a blend of modern scientific knowledge in addition to spiritual teachings. There will be a direct connectivity with the new world. Who would not like to get their kids admitted to these kinds of institutions? We are getting positive response from the government for the same.

17: In the past you had hinted about participating in politics. In future can we see you joining active politics?

Ramdev: At that time we asked for a better political alternative and I believe currently there is the alternative working at the central level. There is no question of me joining active politics. It was my Bhisma Pratigya (vow) not to accept any political position. But if the country is danger and I keep quit that is not possible for me.

18: But you had supported BJP earlier during elections?

Ramdev: That was a time of political crisis. Now I am Nirdaliya (Independent) but also Sarvadaliya (pro-all party). I will rise for the nation whenever the demand comes. The country is supreme for me. 

Niyamgiri protests in Orissa proved we can't always take unilateral decisions, says Sunita Narain

Sunita Narain, is a leading environmentalist from the country since 1980s and currently serving as the director general for the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi. She was also recently ranked among the world’s 100 most influential people by the TIME magazine. In an interview with me, Narain speaks her heart out on several alarming issues. Excerpts from the interview:  

By-Manish Kumar

Your recent book titled ‘Why I should be tolerant’ has now hit the market. How an environmentalist turned into an author?

Sunita: This book is has in making since I joined CSE in early 1980s and started travelling to villages. The book is a learner's efforts to understand environment in India, and environmentalism of poor. Being the editor of Down To Earth (a magazine on environment), I regularly share my experiences/observations with readers. This book is an outcome of all these being put in one place with a central message: we need to be tolerant to be sensitive to environmental issues, affecting villages to global developments like negotiations on climate change. Recently the debate over environment has become very polarised; those who talk about environment has been termed as anti-development. On the other hand the rich countries in the world have already put off any discussions on compromising their emissions resulting from their life style to save the earth. They want the developing countries like India to also commit when they are the historic culprits. My book has come at this time just to make this public. 

You and CSE have often exposed major and rampant malpractices in food safety. Do you think after raising the issues like presence of pesticides in cold drinks, carcinogenic elements in breads among others brought tangible changes in terms of policy modification? 

Sunita: Yes, certainly.  There are quite a few policy level developments. For example, antibiotics are getting much more attention than earlier. We have standards for honey already, and other animal products are now the focus of food authority. Junk food availability at schools is to be regulated.  Energy drinks are now called caffeinated drinks. Stringent limits are set for Trans fats. Pesticide management has received greater attention. We have standards for its residues in packaged water and soft drinks. Even in the latest case of bread, the food authority declared to ban potassium bromate.   

Do you think after the formation of FSSAI, food regulation in the country has become more stringent and regulated?

Sunita: Our laws that regulate food have improved to a certain extent. Focus has shifted from adulteration to contamination. However, we are still far from global best practices in terms ensuring safe food. What is unfortunate is the inadequate implementation of those laws. We have limited infrastructure and resources to support it.

According to state-wise data, unlike other states Orissa food safety department fined only one defaulter against 112 detected cases of adulteration/misbranding in 2015. Do you think such lax attitude can give free hands to defaulters

Sunita: In general, provisions in law for heavy fines and stringent punitive measures are an important aspect of enforcement. It should act as a deterrent.   

Bhubaneswar has bagged the 1^st rank in the list of first 20 smart cities in India? How capable you think the city is to become smarter?

Sunita: I think being getting that rank, Bhubaneswar city has also the huge responsibility to define what is a ‘smart city’. Let's be clear, there is no agreed definition of a smart city. Very loosely it is seen as a settlement where technology is used to bring about efficiency in resource use and improvement in the level of services. All this is needed.  

Bhubaneswar doesn't seem to be different from other Indian cities in their enormous challenges of urbanisation. But before we can bring in smart technology, we need to know what to do with it. How do we build new cities and repair groaning urban settlements to provide clean water to all, to manage the growing mountains of garbage, to treat sewage before we destroy our rivers and to do something as basic as breathing without inhaling toxins? It can be done. Take water, sewage, mobility or air pollution. The current model of resource management, developed in rich Western cities, is costly. It cannot be afforded by all. Even these cities cannot rebuild the paraphernalia for providing services to their people. This system was built years ago, when the city had funds and grew gradually with recurring, high investment. Even if we were to build greenfield cities, we cannot wish for such investment. We need a new approach to humane urban growth. 

 The first principle in this is to accept that we have to renew what already exists. Take water, for example. Our cities have been built to optimise on the available resources. They were smart in building lakes and ponds to harvest every drop of rain. This ensured that the city recharged its water table and did not face floods every time it rained. We need to revive that system, Bhubaneswar has similar experiences with its urban water bodies. It may not be adequate to meet the growing needs of the city, but will cut costs by reducing the length of the pipeline and bring down distribution losses. Once we do this, we should add the smartest technology for measuring supply and for reducing demand. I can't judge whether Bhubaneswar is ready to hold this tag; but I can say for sure that the city has the opportunity to reinvent urbanisation and can emerge as an example. 

What are the major environmental problems Orissa in large and Bhubaneswar in general are facing which could prove as a hurdle to a sustainable city/state? 

Sunita: Orissa in general has all the environmental problems that haunt the whole country. The state faces regular disasters which anyway wouldn't have been around. But only if we could learn from our earlier experiences.  

Orissa is also known for mining. Some experts of mining claim that more mining could led to more dividend to states and Centre. Do you think this could really help the states or actually it could do more harm than good? 

Sunita: The hyped phase of targeting mining for prosperity is over; the state I am told is probing huge scandals over illegal mining and communities like in Niyamgiri have shown us that we can't take unilateral development decision. I don't have access to exact data to show whether mining has helped the state but my assessment is that the state in a wrong way pursued the agenda of mining that backfired. The state has lost the confidence of the local communities who inhabit the mining areas. 

Many states still grapple with paucity of energy despite some solutions like renewable sources of energy being now available. Do you think many states have failed to tap the power of renewable energy sources?

Sunita: You are correct in saying that India has a lot of untapped potential for renewable energy, but it would not be fair to say that the country is not developing these sources. Currently, India has an installed capacity of around 43 giga-watts(GW), out of which wind is around 27 GW and solar power around 7 GW. States like Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra contribute the maximum to wind power development and Gujarat and Rajasthan lead the solar power capacity.  

As far as wind power development is concerned, it started to happen in late 90s and 2000s. This is reason for significant development in this sector. But the turbines installed at that time were shorter in height and lower in capacity, so the areas which had great wind potential, the turbines installed were of smaller capacity. Today with advancement of technology, we have single turbine with upto 3 mega-watts of capacity and have the opportunity to tap potential much better. 

Solar development started in India with the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) in 2010. So the development of 7 GW in a small period in itself is an achievement. But given the ambitious targets and huge amount of solar capacity in the pipeline, our capacity in solar is going to increase manifolds in the coming years. 

Is there any barrier in India in terms of geography/ cost factor when it comes to adopting to renewable sources of energy? Why the renewable sources of energy still not been utilised properly in the country in bigger ways.

Sunita: Cost of renewable energy has always been the major impediment for its development in the past. But the things are changing. Solar capital cost has reduced around 70 per cent in the last 6 years mainly due to cheap Chinese solar panels flooding the market and economies of scale achieved by increasing installation. The cost of generation has also fallen below Rs 5 per unit for solar projects, but it still has to prove its sustainability. 

Wind technology on the other hand is a fairly developed and matured technology. Innovations in the field have lead to increase in the estimates in potential. 

I think the premise itself that the renewable energy development is not happening in the country is not true. India has announced ambitious targets of 175 GW of renewable energy to be achieved by 2022. 100 GW of solar and 60 GW of wind power might look like a farfetched dream but the government has been supporting the sector in myriad of ways. Uday Scheme for financial restructuring of discoms, the draft electricity act, the draft renewable energy act, investments in green energy corridors are some of many initiatives by the government. 

Droughts often play havoc in the lives of farmers and many end their lives due to agranian issue. Do you think drought i.e an environmental condition ruins their lives or this is due to faulty policies? 

Sunita: Our magazine Down To Earth has many times reported drought and other disasters in the state. My assessment is that drought is not caused by deficit monsoon but a deficit planning to drought-proof the state has made the situation a crisis. With over 1300 mm annual rainfall, why a state should suffer from water scarcity.  It means the state has put in place the mechanism to harvest water. Orissa has a rich heritage of water harvesting; Kalahandi region used to be irrigated decades ago solely by traditional structures. But now you look at, the region has chronic drought with all the traditional structures being ignored. 

Also, deforestation causes water to run away faster; the traditional water harvesting structures would have helped in capturing this. 

Citizens of India have the right to know about PM Modi's degrees: Aruna Roy

By-Manish Kumar

RTI activist Aruna Roy was in the city Friday to participate in a convention on activism. In an exclusive interview , Roy discusses a wide range of issues ranging from free speech and RTI to other issues of national interest. Excerpts from the interview:

1) Orissa is one of the few states in the country that insists on ID-cards for RTI applicants and even the name of applicant’s spouse. What is your take on this practice?

Aruna: It is regressive and illegal. They cannot do such things. Asking for the identity of the applicant to prove one’s citizenship is unheard of in other parts of the country. If the law does not ask for this, how they can force the people to do this. However, despite such challenges RTI activism by the activists in Orissa is overwhelming. The number of people who filed RTI in India now has reached 80 lakh.

2) What should be done to discourage the practice?

Aruna: We need to fight it legally. I have also been told that some activists here have filed a petition before the court against the bad practice. If needed people should to go to the Supreme Court to undo such practices that pose hurdles in the smooth functioning of RTI.

3) Would you consider the JNU issue an attack on free speech?

Aruna: The issue at JNU was a sign that free speech was being curtailed. Beating student leader Kanhaiya Kumar on court premises and other related issues hint at such a move. If the students cannot express their views in colleges and universities, where else can they express them? Universities are meant to be platforms for free speech. Delhi University, Hyderabad Central University, Allahabad University all have faced some similar action.

4) Controversy relating to proof of degrees obtained by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is now raging. Should such information be brought into the realm of RTI?

Aruna: Yes. The citizens of the country have all rights to know such information. But there is a general tendency among politicians to hide information from the public. Delhi University also cannot hide such information from the public. They ought to reveal it. Otherwise activists and public will escalate their activities in the days to come.

5) The Whistleblowers Bill meant to protect whistleblowers is still not in place. Do you doubt the intentions of the government on the issue?

Aruna: Whistleblowers’ bill was moved in parliament through an ordinance after much struggle. But the present government, instead of passing it, has sought more amendments. 

This raises doubts about the intention of the government in passing the bill. If the government does not cooperate, we will again hit the streets for the cause.

6) Although it has been a decade since the RTI Act was passed, several offices and officials still do not comply with its implementation. What is the solution?

Aruna: Many errant officials are unaware of the power of activism. Earlier, we had about 1 lakh RTI applicants. Now the number has escalated to 80 lakh. How can you lock horns with such a huge group that is fighting for transparency and rights. It is time for them to awaken.

7) You have also batted for the propagation of community radios? Have such systems caught on?

Aruna: Community radios have been facing many hurdles hampering their growth. Tougher licensing process and restrictions have taken a toll on them. 

Community radio offers great potential for addressing local issues locally but it is being put under control by the government.

Nadda says will work towards increasing PG seats in medical colleges but silent on when and how

Union health minister J P Nadda was in Bhubaneswar on March 26 to launch the national Rotavirus vaccine in government healthcare system in four states. During his day-long events in the state capital of Odisha, I got the chance to ask some questions on important issues pertaining to the health sector at the sidelines of some events. The minister reluctant to answer much queries however responded to some of the queries.

(Published in Orissa POST, Bhubaneswar on March 27, 2016)

By-Manish Kumar  

1.  Many parts of the country suffer from dearth of qualified doctors. Do you have any plan to increase PG seats in medical education to tackle the issue?

Nadda: We will be taking steps to address the issue. We will look into the problem. However it will be a premature move to comment on the issue now as there is not enough material now to talk on the issue and elaborate. When we will have enough plans to elaborate we will discuss. Right now I cannot comment as I don’t have enough plans in hands to talk in detail.

2. International funding to the National AIDS Control Programme has declined. Will it have any impact on the overall programme.

Nadda: No. The government is committed to work into this regard to issue the programme runs smoothly and the people living with HIV can get government support.

3. But is Centre capable enough now to ensure HIV treatment through government hospitals in the country despite funding challenge?

Nadda: Yes. The Centre has meanwhile extended the facilities of the government to benefit more number of people living with HIV. Now with the support of the Central government people having the CD count of between 420-500 can also avail the government support. With this move, we have included 1 lakh more people living with HIV in the last one year into government treatment. The whole funding issues will also be taken care of.

4. The Mental Health Care Bill 2013 and the HIV & AIDS (Prevention and Control) Bill 2014 are still pending in the parliament. What is the reason for the pendency of these two crucial bills?

Nadda: We are committed to pass these bills. We will be moving it forward to pass. However I cannot comment on the issues in haste as I am unable to elaborate during the short span of time during my visit to the city.

5. Any specific reason? Is the opposition not cooperating?

Nadda: I cannot answer all questions after my exit from programmes during my walk with you. I will look into this.

6. Available data suggests that AIIMS, Bhubaneswar received the largest funds from the Centre out of the all the new AIIMS in the country. Any specific reason?

Nadda: No. The allocation of funds to the different All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) spread in different parts of the country by the Centre is based on the work plane furnished. So the funding was made purely on the available work plan.

7. It has been heard that there could be some administrative changes at AIIMS, Bhubaneswar and the director may be changed. What is the reality?  

Nadda: The decision of appointment of director of AIIMS in the country is done by a pre-determined process. There is a selection committee in place and such decisions are taken by them and the Centre has little role to play into this matter.

Orissa struggles to tackle HIV, progm suffers

By-Manish Kumar

Bhubaneswar, Dec 1: The National AIDS Control Programme launched after the first Human Immuno Deficiency Virus (HIV) case was detected 29 years ago to ameliorate the condition of the victims, but the social stigma continues to humiliate the group till now.

Investigations by this newspaper have brought to focus several dark sides of the healthcare institutions which instead of helping people living with HIV are actually turning their lives miserable. Many discriminatory incidences in renowned government hospitals, which are often the hope for many HIV people for their treatment, have surfaced.

Although clear norms are set by the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) to ensure extreme confidentiality of people living with HIV, government hospitals like SCB Medical College and Hospital seem to be blatantly flouting guidelines.

According to NACO, doctors are advised to write ‘immuno compromised’ on prescriptions instead of HIV positive to shield the patient’s HIV status but such norms are ignored.

I got hold of  a prescription issued by SCB Medical College, Cuttack, (in the picture) to an HIV positive patient, which discloses his HIV status. The prescription states ‘HIV positive diagnosed since 2008’. Ironically, the doctor prescribes medicines for purchase from medicine stores without consideration for consequences such as embarrassment the patient may undergo.

Sheetal Mohanty (name changed), an HIV positive person, said, “Many doctors and hospitals write clearly on prescriptions as ‘‘HIV positive patient’’. We show this to medicine shops where we have to face strange gestures. Our relatives unaware of our medical condition may find the prescription and consequently, we stand a threat of social stigma.”

Like Sheetal there are others who have faced such situations. However, people working in the field say there are problems galore for people living with HIV when they confront strange attitude from even healthcare professionals.

Activists working in this sector say despite projects to eradicate discrimination at hospitals such issues continue to persist.

Sushmita Sahoo, project coordinator of Kalinga network for people living with HIV, told me “We take persons with HIV to Capital Hospital or SCB Medical College for treatment. The doctors do not deny that they would not operate such patients. They promise to try their best but pass the buck on to someone else. Often doctors at Capital Hospital refer patients to SCB and doctors at SCB also redirect such patients to Capital Hospital. In such cases HIV positive people are left to run from pillar to post for treatment.”  

The problem arises when the doctors have to conduct surgical operations although general treatment at clinics is not an issue, said Sahoo, adding not all doctors are alike. Some operate on HIV positive persons but there are many who are reluctant to operate on them.   

When contacted, SCB Medical College superintendent PK Rath said, “We will look into the matter. A minimum protocol must be followed. I will advise the errant doctors to ensure they don’t write such things on prescriptions in future.” 

AIDS Control Programme under threat in Orissa

Despite the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) having been operational in the state since 1997, there are problems galore on the way of its interventions these days. The problems are expected to grow due to the structural changes the agencies associated with NACP are undergoing.

In March 2015, the Centre slashed National AIDS Control Organisation’s (NACO) budget by 22 per cent. The move followed withdrawal of NACO’s autonomy and its merger with the central health ministry. Worsening NACO’s woes, many international organisations also withdrew their financial support to NACP. The impacts of such changes are now felt in the states, including Orissa.

NACO has been spending most of its funds in prevention and awareness strategies implemented by its state-level organisations such as Orissa State AIDS Control Society (OSACS). The most popular programmes of OSACS – distribution of free condoms and awareness campaigns through ground-level health volunteers – are now being hit by funds crunch and the changes formulated at the central levels.

  

“We signed a contract with OSACS last year to work in targeted intervention programmes to demonstrate among high-risk groups and the masses how to prevent HIV infection from spreading. But we hardly get free condoms from OSACS, and the financial support is also negligible. But, undeterred, many of us still work only with the aid of some private agencies and NGOs,” said Meera Parida, chairperson of All Orissa Third Gender Association.

“With scanty funds to pay ground-level health workers – who often comprise female sex workers, the third gender and others earlier engaged in sex work – many of them are found returning to their earlier unsafe trades,” added Parida.

Loknath Mishra, a veteran activist from Gopalpur under Ganjam district who has been working in this sector for the last 21 years, said: “The whole programme is now under threat. There are cases where such health workers have not been paid for six months. So they have no option but to quit as health workers.”

“In the most affected district of Ganjam, there are around 3,500 villages. OSACS has reached just 100 of them. Only increased awareness and education can prevent the rise in HIV infection, but such programmes now face threats,” added Mishra, who has founded a shelter for children with HIV in Gopalpur.

Officials at OSACS also express helplessness. “The recent changes have posed significant threats to the whole programme. The funds that NACO earlier sanctioned directly to the state units are now routed through the state government treasury, and we have to apply to get the funds from there. We are able to get just our salaries from there, but our programmes at the ground level do get affected,” said an OSACS official requesting anonymity.

Under, NACP, now in its fourth phase, the new rules mandate that the state AIDS societies would get 25 per cent of the funds from the state government, unlike earlier when they got the whole funds directly from NACO. Experts are wary of the new funding channel facing bureaucratic hassles. Besides, though activists have been urging a merger of National Health Mission with NACP since 2012, no steps have been taken in that direction yet. 

Experts warn that a gradual crippling of the programme and laxity of the authorities concerned, if left unchecked, could lead to cases of infection increasing rapidly. Such fears have proven true in countries like Philippines, they say.  

However, state health secretary Arti Ahuja assured during a public function Tuesday that the state government would extend full support for successful execution of NACP in Orissa so that there is a reduction of infection, stigma and deaths to zero levels. 

Pvt clinics, testing centres biggest defaulters:

Banners and advertisements outside private clinics claiming treatment for HIV and diagnostic centres offering HIV testing facilities may attract many visitors. These claims for treatment of viral disease, however, turn out to be hoax when it comes to following the prescribed norms of National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO). The national body seeks to ensure uniformity in prevention and treatment strategies of the viral disease.

According to experts, private clinics and diagnostic centres have little to offer to people living with HIV. Many working in the field of HIV advocacy and control believe private clinics/diagnostic centres are doing more harm than good in controlling the disease.

Such treatment facilities go against the norms set for regulated HIV testing. NACO prescribes pre and post testing counselling in cases of HIV test done at diagnostic centres, which is non-existent in some private clinics. Consent of patient for HIV testing was not taken by such private hospitals.

The fact has been vindicated by many who have opted for private facilities.

“I was suffering from a kidney stone ailment and the doctor told me to go for surgery for which he asked me to undergo several tests including HIV. However, a pre-counselling was never done in this case. I was surprised when I donated blood recently. The blood bank held a comprehensive couselling over HIV,” said a regular blood donor here.

Experts suggested dependence on trusted ART centres for HIV treatment. Rewati Raman Rahul, a public health expert, said, “ART clinics are most reliable medical centres for HIV treatment. Doctors there are trained by concerned authorities on changed combination of drugs and are well-informed about the latest development in the field,”

An HIV activist said, “Some private clinics use preliminary HIV testing facilities like ELISA, which could yield faulty results. Confirmatory tests are done at government hospitals to get only confirmed cases. The mandatory prophylaxis and treatment norms to prevent transmission of virus from HIV positive women to their children are not being adhered to in private hospitals.”

NACO has issued such guidelines in 2010 to prevent transmission of virus from pregnant women to their children. The Orissa State AIDS Control Society (OSACS)  also affirms that private players have little role in HIV treatment.

Talking to me, OSACS additional project director Chandrika Das said, “I advise people living with HIV to consult trusted ART centres at government hospitals. Counselling and other services are available at government hospitals through blood banks and integrated counselling and testing centres (ICTCs) which have reliable testing and counselling systems for the needy.”    

Such claims have been vindicated by some state AIDS societies. According to a study conducted by Delhi state AIDS control society in 2014, private hospitals and nursing homes were violating the NACO norms.

The study said, “Private hospitals declare an individual as HIV positive on the basis of a single HIV rapid antibody test, whereas the National ICTC guidelines recommend a series of rapid antibody HIV tests to declare a person HIV infected.”

Viral load test still a utopian dream in Orissa

Notwithstanding 36, 617 HIV cases in the state and a 9 per cent share in the country in new infections, the crucial viral load test for people living with HIV is still not available in the coastal state. The test which helps in calculating the amount of HIV available in the blood of the affected persons often helps in administering the right combination of drugs to directly attack the causative organism of any disease rather than giving symptomatic treatment in the absence of a key blood report.

“Saddened by the affairs, people living with HIV are now forced to move to Kolkata which is the nearest centre where testing is done. Many poor people never bother to go for such crucial tests as the whole exercise of travelling to a different state and other expenditures are not affordable,” said Prabhasini Mishra, chairperson of Kalinga Network of People Living with HIV which is active in Khurda district.

Experts opine that absence of such reports cascades the woes of people living with HIV. Dr Rewati Raman Rahul, a public health expert, said, “In the absence of a report, doctors give medicines on guess. Many a time, the root cause, which could be higher viral load, is not targeted, making the given treatment futile.”

Unfortunately, test centres managed by National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) number only six in the whole country. The Centre has no plan to open new units citing high cost of establishment of testing units.

I recently filed an RTI with the Central government asking if they have any plan to open such a centre in Orissa. The reply is still awaited. Meanwhile, the Central health and family welfare ministry has forwarded the RTI plea to NACO.

It is not only a lack of viral load testing centres in the state. Other problems relating to drugs and testing are also galore. According to people working in this field, managing existing infrastructure is still a problem.

“Once in a year we get news about shortage of drugs at ART centres, although counselors and doctors ask HIV persons never to miss the medicines as such things can cause drug resistance. Also at least once or twice, the CD4 blood testing machines get defunct in hospitals affecting the treatment cycle,” said Sushmita Sahoo, who works with the Vihaan Project which works to control the disease besides working towards advocacy, legal aid and interventions in cases of medical and social stigma.

The defunct machines of CD4 testing tools are also reported from Ganjam district which accounts for 35% of the total HIV cases in the state. Nevertheless, activists working in the field said counseling services at government hospitals have been satisfactory and yielded good response including persuading high risk groups to undergo treatment.

The change makers in Orissa

Working from a small office in a three-storied building in Nayapalli, Biswa Bhushan Pattnaik, project director of SAATHI (Solidarity & Action Against the HIV Infection in India), has been working with ‘Project Pahchaan’ which has set a goal to generate awareness among high risk groups about the viral disease and ways to prevent its infection.

“We work with high risk groups like transgenders, hijra community and men who have sex with other men. Members of such risky groups need proper education about the hazards. We have been screening films on such issues, having direct communication and other means to change the attitude of such groups and also the society,” Pattnaik told me.

Such training and communication, according to Pattnaik, help bring attitudinal change in society. “Often, we go to villages where we screen films. We elicit reactions of villagers after the film show. We have seen change in their mindset. We ask simple questions like ‘‘would you buy a vegetable from a vendor who is HIV positive.”     

Another inspiring person I spoke to was Sushmita Sahoo who has been working with the Kalinga Network of People Living with HIV. She is associated with people living with HIV. Her work involves direct advocacy of issues related to them with the government and healthcare institutions. With the support of her organisation, she has been intervening in cases of social stigma and discrimination.

When asked if she gets perturbed seeing the overall fear among people towards the disease, she said, “Not at all. I have been working with HIV positive people for long. I do share food, living space and often engage with them in counselling. We exhort them to stick to their treatment cycle. I believe, like doctors treating them also need to be friendly with them.”

Like people working in Bhubaneswar, there are many in other parts of the state who have dedicated a big part of their life fighting for the rights of people living with HIV. Loknath Mishra, a veteran fighting for HIV rights from Gopalpur in Ganjam district for the past 21 years, is the founder of a children’s shelter in Gopalpur which works for kids living with HIV. The shelter was set up with the support of erstwhile Ganjam collector V Kartekeyan Pandian, now private secretary to the chief minister.

Overwhelmed by the support Mishra and his institution have been providing for kids with HIV, he said, “All kids living in the shelter home are attending schools. It would have been difficult for them to go to schools had they resided in their locality with HIV status. We fought for the issue and ensured the kids live a dignified life without discrimination. They play with each other after school and adequate care has been taken for them.”

Besides private interventions, Orissa government seems to have taken some measures to tackle HIV. The state is among the few in the country which covers people with HIV under some pension scheme. The state government covers people with HIV under its Madhu Babu Pension Yojana.  

Besides private interventions, Orissa government seems to have taken some measures to tackle HIV. The state is among the few in the country which covers people with HIV under some pension scheme. The state government covers people with HIV under its Madhu Babu Pension Yojana.