|
| Home » Asia Pacific at a Glance » India |
| |
 |
|
INDIA AT A GLANCE |
|
| |
|
|
| |
| |
|
Print
Page |
| |
|
|
| |
| General
Information |
| |
| Location: South Asia,
bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, slightly more
than one-third the size of the US. Neighbouring countries are
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, China, Nepal and Pakistan |
| |
| Government: Federal
Republic |
| |
| Administrative Divisions:
28 states and 7 union territories (UT). |
| |
| Language:
English is an important language for national, political, and
commercial communication. Hindi (official national language).
Regional languages: Bengali (official), Telugu (official),
Marathi (official), Tamil (official), Urdu (official), Gujarati
(official), Malayalam (official), Kannada (official), Oriya
(official), Punjabi (official), Assamese (official), Kashmiri
(official), Sindhi (official) and Sanskrit (official). There
are many more languages and dialects. |
| |
| Religions:
Hindu, Islam, Christian, Sikh, other religions including Buddhist,
Jain, Parsi. |
| |
| Ethnic groups: Indo-Aryan,
Dravidian, Mongoloid and others |
| |
| EXECUTIVE |
| Head of State |
President Abdul Kalam
(since 26 July 2002); Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat
(since 12 August 2002). |
| Head of Government |
Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh (since May 2004). |
| Cabinet |
Council of
Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation
of the prime minister. |
| Elections |
Lok Sabha
(House of Representatives) last held in May 2004. President
elected by an electoral college consisting of elected
members of both houses of Parliament and the legislatures
of the states for a five-year term; election last held
in July 2002 (next to be held in July 2007); vice president
elected by both houses of Parliament for a five-year term;
election last held 12 August 2002 (next to be held in
August 2007); prime minister elected by parliamentary
members of the majority party following legislative elections. |
| LEGISLATURE |
| |
Bicameral
Parliament or Sansad consists of the Council of States
or Rajya Sabha (a body consisting of not more than 250
members, up to 12 of which are appointed by the president,
the remainder are chosen by the elected members of the
state and territorial assemblies; members serve six-year
terms) and the People's Assembly or Lok Sabha (545 seats;
543 elected by popular vote, 2 appointed by the president;
members serve five-year terms) |
| JUDICIARY |
| |
Supreme Court (judges
are appointed by the president and remain in office until
they reach the age of 65) |
| SPECIAL FACTORS |
| |
- India is marked by a vast (one billion) and ethnically
heterogeneous population, with 13 officially recognised
regional languages and many hundreds of ethnic and
linguistic groups in the country.
- Liberalisation of economic policies in the recent
past has led to a significant influx of external investment
(from the West as well as the East), which in turn
has stimulated further developments in the industrial
and infrastructural sectors of the country.
- Due to the lack of balanced economic development
throughout the country, large internal population
migrations - especially of young men in search of
income - are commonplace.
- Extensive cross-border trade with neighbouring countries
(especially Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka
and Pakistan) for commercial and other purposes is
present. Reportedly there are some well established
sex work traffic routes between Nepal and India and
Bangladesh and India. Refugee populations from Tibet,
Sri Lanka and Afghanistan can be found concentrated
in certain areas of the country.
- Social Sector Development (especially Health, Education
and Social Welfare) fall under the jurisdiction of
the respective States and Union Territories. As a
consequence, the onus of taking action falls on state
governments, rather than Central Government.
- Issues of human sexuality are extremely sensitive,
and attempts to broaden the discourse on human sexuality
matters are considered by some as attempts to debase
the local cultures and traditions.
|
|
| |
| Indicators |
| |
| Population ( millions) |
| Population growth (1991-2001) |
| Annual Population Growth (percent) |
| Population Density (per sq.km) |
| Sex Ratio (females per 1,000
males) |
| Crude Birth Rate (per 1000 population) |
| Crude Death Rate |
| Total Fertility Rate |
| Infant Mortality (per 1000) |
| Maternal Mortality Rate
(per 100,000) |
| Human Development Index Ranking |
| Literacy (Total) |
| -
Males |
| -
Females |
| Increase in literacy |
| People below poverty line (%) |
| Urban Population (%) |
| Growth of Urban population (annual) |
| Life expectancy |
| Per capita GNP (US $) |
| Population with access to proper
sanitation (%) |
| Population with access to improved
water sources (%) |
| Health Expenditure-Public (%
of GDP) |
| Health Expenditure - Private
(% of GDP) |
| Physicians per 1000 population |
| Population with Access to Essential
Drugs (%) |
|
| 1028.60 | 2001 | Census of India, 2001 | | 21.34 | 2001 | Census of India, 2001 | | 1.93 | 2000 | Census of India, 2001 | | 324 | 2001 | Census of India, 2001 | | 933 | 2001 | Census of India, 2001 | | 26.4 | 2000 | Planning Commission of India | | 9 | 2000 | Planning Commission of India | | 3.1 | 2000-2005 | UNDP HDR 2005 | | 63 | 2004 | State of the World Report-2003 | | 407 | 2001 | Census of India, 2001 | | 127 | 2005 | UNDP HDR 2005 | | 65.38 | 2001 | Census of India, 2001 | | 75.85 | 2001 | Census of India, 2001 | | 54.16 | 2001 | Census of India, 2001 | | 13.75 | 2001 | Census of India, 2001 | | 28.6 | 1990-2002 | UNDP HDR 2005 | | 28.3 | 2003 | UNDP HDR 2005 | | 2.2 | 1990-1998 | World Bank | | 63.3 | 2003 | UNDP HDR 2005 | | 440 | 1999 | UNPOP | | 30 | 2002 | UNDP HDR 2005 | | 86 | 2002 | UNDP HDR 2005 | | 1.3 | 2002 | UNDP HDR 2005 | | 4.8 | 2002 | UNDP HDR 2005 | | 51 | 1990-2004 | UNDP HDR 2005 | | 0-49 | 1999 | UNDP HDR 2003 |
|
|
|
| |
| Back to Top |
| |
| Socio-Economic
Background |
| |
| With more than a billion people, one of the fastest
economic growth rates in the world since the 1980s and a robust
Information Technology industry that is projected to earn about
US $ 50 billion by 2008, India is a country of striking contrasts. |
| |
| With more than a quarter of the population living
below poverty line, making the numbers in absolute terms (2002)
living below the poverty line, the country has the highest concentration
of poverty anywhere in the world. The country accounts for 40
per cent of the world's poor and its social indicators are still
poor my most measures of human development. At 6.0 per cent
of GDP (March, 2004), its fiscal deficit is one of the highest
in the world. |
| |
- More than half of all children under the age of four are
malnourished and 30 percent of newborns are significantly
underweight.
- India adds 16 million people every year to its population,
just two million less than the entire population of Australia
- 60 per cent of the women are anaemic.
- Maternal deaths at 540/1000 account for almost 25 percent
of the world's childbirth-related deaths.
- Almost half of Indian women are illiterate though it has
the second largest education system in the world after China.
- India has the largest remaining pool of polio transmission
in the world.
|
| |
| But the poor indicators do not articulate India's
achievements. |
| |
| The general condition of India's population has
improved since the 1970s. Average life expectancy at birth has
increased from 50 years to 63.9, the infant mortality rate has
fallen by half to about 67 per 1,000 live births, and the crude
birth rate has fallen to about 25 per thousand population. |
| |
| India's national family welfare program has helped
move the country about two-thirds of the way toward its goal
of replacement- level fertility. However, population growth
and the impending strain on the environment, natural resources,
and social services still pose a threat to India's development.
|
| |
| Despite some improvement, India's
women remain significantly more malnourished than men. Bias
against women and girls is reflected in the demographic ratio
of 933 females for every 1,000 males. The country's maternal
mortality rate at 540 is very high, particularly in rural areas
it is even higher. |
| |
| Although declining, largely preventable diseases
such as leprosy, tuberculosis, cataract blindness, and malaria
continue to account for 50 percent of reported illness, and
around 470 deaths per 100,000. Despite a decade of polio initiatives
under India's immunisation program, India accounted for more
than two-thirds of polio cases reported worldwide in 1998. |
| |
| India made modest increases in primary
education enrolment rates in the 1990s. |
| |
| The rise in literacy rates over the
last decade indicates India's progress in education. In the
last decade, the overall literacy rate increased from 52 percent
to 65.38 percent. Yet almost half of Indian women are still
illiterate; about 40 million primary school-age children are
not in school (mostly girls and those from the poorest and socially-excluded
households); and only about one-third of an age group completes
the constitutionally prescribed eight years of education. |
| |
| Back to Top |
| |
| |
| HIV
Situation |
| |
| An estimated 2.5 million Indians are currently living with HIV. Concentrated in seven states with over 1% antenatal prevalence in four of the industrialized western and southern states of India (specifically Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu) and in the north-eastern states of Manipur and Nagaland, the epidemic is highly heterogenous. Although data gathered by NACO in 2007 has revealed that HIV prevalence has stabilised in at least Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra, it is increasing in at-risk populations in other states. As a result, overall HIV prevalence has continued to rise. |
| |
| A significant proportion of new infections is occurring in women who are married and who have been infected by husbands who either currently or in the past) frequented sex workers. Commercial sex (along with injecting drug use, in the cases of Nagaland and Tamil Nadu) serves as a major driver of the epidemic in most parts of India. Surveys in 2003 found 14% of commercial sex workers in Karnataka and 19% in Andhra Pradesh were infected with HIV. In Mysore, 26% of sex workers were HIV positive, according to a 2005 survey. |
| |
| COMMERCIAL SEX & CONDOM USE |
| |
| Surveys carried out in various parts of India in 2001 found that 30% of street-based sex workers did not know that condoms prevented HIV infection, and in some states, such as Haryana, fewer than half of all sex workers (brothel- and street-based) knew that condoms prevented HIV. Even four years later there seemed to have been no improvement in the situation. Surveys in 2005 again revealed that 42% thought they could tell whether a client had HIV on the basis of his physical appearance. At the same time, another study in Mysore revealed that only 14% of sex workers used condoms consistently with clients and that 91% of them never used condoms during sex with their regular partners. |
| |
| There are some exceptions, of course. Among them are the sex workers of Kolkata’s Sonagachi red-light area (in West Bengal) who have shown that safer sex programmes that empower sex workers can curb the spread of HIV. Condom use in Sonagachi has risen as high as 85% and HIV prevalence among commercial sex workers declined to under 4% in 2004 (having exceeded 11% in 2001). In Mumbai, by contrast, available data suggest that sporadic and piecemeal efforts to promote condom use during commercial sex have not been as effective; there, HIV prevalence among female sex workers has not fallen below 52% since 2000 (NACO, 2004). |
| |
| INJECTING DRUG USE |
| |
| In the north-east of India, HIV transmission is concentrated chiefly among drug injectors and their sexual partners (some of whom also buy or sell sex), especially in the states of Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland, all of which lie adjacent to the drug-trafficking ‘Golden Triangle’ zone (Solomon et al., 2004). Some 20% of female sex workers said they injected drugs, according to behavioural surveillance. In other north-eastern states, about half as many sex workers have reported injecting drugs. |
| |
| Harm reduction efforts (including needle and syringe exchange, as well as limited drug substitution programmes) were introduced in some states, such as Manipur. There, in 2003 the HIV prevalence among drug injectors was 24%—the lowest levels detected among injecting drug users in that state since 1998. Elsewhere the epidemics among drug injectors appear to be well established, with HIV prevalence having reached 14% in Nagaland in 2000–2003, for example. |
| |
| But not only in the North-east, there has been a sharp rise in HIV infections among drug injectors in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, where 39% were HIV-infected in 2003, compared with 25% in 2001. In Chennai, Tamil Nadu, almost two thirds (64%) of injectors were HIV-positive, according to sentinel surveillance done in 2003. |
| |
| OTHER FACTORS |
| |
| Relatively little is known about the role of sex between men in India’s HIV epidemic. The few studies that have examined this complex dimension of sexuality in India have found that significant numbers of men do have sex with other men. One study, undertaken among residents slum areas in Chennai, has found that 6% of men had had sexual intercourse with another man. Almost 7% of the men who had sex with other men were HIV-positive, and more than half them were married. |
| |
| Poverty combined with low status does not allow a vast majority of women to negotiate safe sex, and thus makes them vulnerable to the disease. Like in many other developing countries, migration and mobility not only makes people vulnerable to HIV but is also a contributing factor to the spread of the disease. |
| |
| GOVERNMENT RESPONSE |
| |
| Beginning with the establishment of a National AIDS Control Program (NACP), managed by a small unit within the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the government has over time scaled up its response considerably. |
| |
| The Government has already implemented various programmes and amended rules regarding blood safety and established a decentralized mechanism to facilitate effective state-level responses to HIV prevention programmes, through NACP I and II. It is currently preparing for NACP III. |
| |
| The design of NACP 3 includes a complex consultative process. State specific and nationwide consultations are being held with national stakeholders such as PLWHA networks, local and international NGOs, experts and practitioners of HIV control initiatives, as well as international development partners. |
| |
| NACP I, II and III |
| |
| The NACP 1 which lasted from 1992-1999 met several challenges – from limited capacity to denial and low commitment -- headlong and registered some success. The achievements included capacity building in manegerial and technical aspects of the programme in all states and union territories, setting up of training centres for personnel in management of HIV and strengthening some 500 STD clinics. Importantly, blood transfusion without license was made illegal and by the end of the project term in 1999, there were no unlicensed blood banks. Also, 154 zonal blood testing centres were set up and 815 public sector and voluntary blood banks strengthened. Surveillance capacity was developed in 140 centres and 180 sentinel sites nationwide. |
| |
| The NACP II which finished its run in March 2006, sought to shift focus from raising awareness to changing behaviour through interventions. The Project aimed at evidence-based planning, prevention and an expanded mandate for care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS. |
| |
| Priority was given to setting up annual sentinel surveillance, HIV case detection, mapping of high-risk groups and behavioural survelliance.
Building on the experience of the first phase, there was a twin drive to focus on coverage amongst high risk groups like sex workers, truck drivers and injecting drug users and to make the programme multi-sectoral. It resulted in a strongly decentralized programme with the responsibility of implementation vested with the states. Flexible State AIDS Societies were formed with stronger mechanisms for state level programme management.
The outcomes envisaged in the NACP II were to keep HIV seroprevalence below 5% of the adult population in high prevalence states, below 3% in the moderate prevalence states and below 1% in the low prevalence states. |
| |
| The NACP III (2007-2012), launched recently, has been designed after series of consultation at the national, state and district levels drawing from the experiences NACP I & II. With the overall goal to halt and reverse the epidemic in India over the next five years by integrating programmes for prevention, care, support and treatment, the NACP III will use a four pronged strategy of: |
- Preventing new infections in high risk groups and general population
- Providing greater care, support and treatment to PLHAs
- Strengthening the infrastructure systems and human resources in prevention, care, support and treatment programmes at the district, state and national level
- Strengthening the nationwide Strategic Information Management System
|
| The specific objectives of NACP-III are to reduce the estimated new infections: |
- By 60 percent in the first year of the programme in high-prevelance states, so as to obtain reversal of the epidemic
- By 40 percent in the vulnerable states so as to stabilize the HIV epidemic.
|
| The total proposed financial requirement of Rs 11,585 crore including budgeting and extra budgetary support. |
| |
| ANTI-RETROVIRAL TREATMENT |
| |
| As Indian-manufactured generic drugs entered the market and costs of anti-retroviral treatment registered a sharp decline, conditions were feasible, to some extent, for the government to provide free anti-retroviral treatment. From April 1, 2004, anti-retroviral treatment is being provided free of cost at government hospitals in six high prevalence states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnakata, Manipur, Nagaland and Delhi. |
| |
| Additionlly, the government priorised three categories for intial outreach: 1) the HIV positive women who access government antinatal clinics, 2) children up to 15 years of age and 3) adults with full blown AIDS who access government hospitals for care and treatment. Between 2004-05, the government sought to increase the number of ART centres from 8 to 25. |
| |
| RESEARCH, VACCINE TRIALS |
| |
| Almost 60 microbicidial products or compounds are under development world-wide
and some of these have entered into phase II clinical trials. In India, research and development is being undertaken on polyherbal neem based microbicide tablets. Phase I trial of this microbicide was conducted by National Institute of Research on Reproductive Health, Mumbai and PGI, Chandigarh. The product has been found safe. Extended and initial efficacy trials are being conducted by National AIDS Research Institute, Pune. |
| |
| Condom use, mutual monogamy and abstinence are not any real options for a lot of women, specially in a developing country where poverty and gender inequality is high. For those who lack the power of negotiating sex safe, microbicides are a potentially lifesaving alternative to condoms. |
| |
| As regards vaccines, several of these have been reviewed to select the most appropriate one for India. A multistakeholder Advisory Board is in place to deliberate the legal, ethical and socio-behavioural issues related to vaccine trials in the country.
In July 2005, India and America agreed to speed up the review of generic antiretroviral drugs by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (eight of the 10 drugs approved so far are made in India.) |
| |
| CORPORATE SUPPORT AND HIV/AIDS |
| |
| By corporate sector’s own admission, their proactive engagement into HIV/AIDS in India has till recently remained piecemeal. From late 2005, however, there has been a flurry of activity with business houses coming together to chalk out a roadmap in establishing corporate HIV/AIDS programs targeted at the workforce and/or community of private sector companies. |
| |
| A mid-2005 Global Health Initiative study of the World Economic Forum had revealed that just 7% of Indian companies expected HIV/AIDS to have any serious impact on their operations. The report “Business & HIV/AIDS : A Healthier Partnership?” surveyed 11,000 business leaders in 117 countries between January and May 2005. Of the Indian corporate bodies surveyed, only 11% had any written policy to combat discrimination in promotion, pay or benefits based on HIV status. About 31% reported having an informal policy, while 52% had no policy to face the expected challenge. |
| |
| The report observes that 76% of Indian companies surveyed claim to have a prevention programme, while only 29% have provision for any voluntary testing against the global average of 33%. In 50% of cases there was no provision for voluntary testing, 45% had no facilities to distribute condoms, and 67% had no treatment programme. |
| |
| On the positive side, 14% had an active policy to protect workers, with 10% ensuring access to anti-retroviral treatment, 19% to promotion of condom usage, and 29% to providing voluntary testing facilities.* |
| |
| In September 2005 CoRE-BCSD India - a 52 company strong platform for Indian corporates to accomplish their mission for sustainable development - initiated action to strengthen Indian industry’s response to the HIV epidemic. The process is expected to generate a dialogue in the company on a disease that concerns everyone. Three possible areas where business houses could initiate, support/ scale up awareness and prevent the spread of the epidemic were identified: |
| |
- their workplace – by raising awareness about HIV/AIDS and promoting prevention among employees in the workplace, and by extending such education programs throughout their operations and to partners in their supply chain;
- their clinical facilities – by training medical and clinical staff on HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), i.e. modes of transmission, prevention (with a special focus on universal precautions related to HIV infection in clinical settings), basic counseling skills, syndromic management of STIs, opportunistic infections related to HIV and anti-retroviral treatment therapies;
- their communities – by supporting or scaling-up the awareness and prevention efforts within high risk or vulnerable populations around their operations, particularly the migrant workers and trucking community which some companies see as key stakeholders, or with whom they interact on a day-to-day basis.
|
| |
| Intervention also includes forming an action plan that will be reviewed on a regular basis and drafting a HIV/AIDS policy that will be promoted at all levels at the workplace. |
| |
| In March 2006, Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS (GBC) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) jointly initiated a project engaging corporations involved in Business Process Outsourcing. GBC’s work with India’s growing BPO industry is supported by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and GBC Corporate Advisory Board member Ratan N. Tata. |
| |
| Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) |
| |
| There are numerous NGOs working on HIV/AIDS issues in India at the local, state, and national levels. Projects include targeted interventions with high risk groups; direct care of people living with HIV/AIDS; general awareness campaigns; and care for children orphaned by AIDS. Funding comes from local contributors, international donors as well as state and central governments. |
| |
| Donors |
| |
| India receives technical assistance and funding from a variety of UN partners and bilateral donors. Bilateral donors such as USAID, CIDA, and DFID have been involved since the early 1990s at the state level in a number of states. USAID has committed more than US$70 million since 1992, CIDA US$11 million, and DFID close to US$200 million. |
| |
| The number of major financers and the amount of funding available has increased significantly in the last year. Since 2004, the Gates Foundation has pledged US$200 million for the next five years, the Global Fund has approved US$54 million for HIV/AIDS for projects in rounds two, three and four. DFID has also increased its financing and is considering the inclusion of additional states. Other more recent donors include DANIDA, SIDA, the Clinton Foundation and the European Union. |
| |
| Back to Top |
| |
| HIV/AIDS
Estimates |
| |
| HIV in India - A fast spreading
epidemic |
| |
- 1986: First case of HIV detected in Chennai
- 1990: HIV levels among High Risk Groups
like Sex workers and STD clinic attendants in Maharashtra
and amongst Injecting Drug Users in Manipur reaches over
5 percent.
- 1994: HIV no longer restricted to high
risk groups in Maharashtra, but spreading into the general
population. HIV also spreading to the states of Gujarat
and Tamil Nadu where high risk groups have over 5 percent
HIV prevalence.
- 1998: Rapid HIV spread in the four large
southern states, not only in highrisk groups but also in
the general population where it has reached over 1percent.
Infection rate among antenatal women reaches 3.3 in Namakkal
in Tamil Nadu and 5.3 in Churachandpur in Manipur. Among
IDUs in Churachandpur it crosses 76 percent and in Mumbai,
64.4 per cent.
- 1999: The infection rate in antenatal
women in Namakkal rises to 6.5. About 60 per cent of the
sex workers in some Mumbai sites are infected. Infection
rates among STD patients have reached up to 30 percent in
Andhra Pradesh and 14-60 per cent in Maharashtra. About
64.4 percent IDUs at one of the sites in Mumbai and 68.4
percent in Chruachandpur are infected.
- 2001: Infection crosses one per cent
in six states. These states account for 75 per cent of the
country's estimated HIV cases. The Prime Minister addresses
the Chief Ministers of high prevalence states and urges
them to intensify prevention activities.
- 2002: In year 2003 there has been an
increase of about 6 lakh infections (4.58 million). This
increase has been noticed primarily in states of Karnataka,
Rajasthan, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Bihar, Madhya
Pradesh and Rajasthan. There is no significant increase
in HIV infections in the country. India continues to be
in the category of low prevalence countries with overall
prevalence of less than 1 percent.
|
| |
| |
| Estimated Number of
People Living With HIV/AIDS : 5.1 million (2003) |
| |
| Previous Years |
| Year |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
| No.
of cases |
3.5 million |
3.7 million |
3.86 million |
3.97 million |
4.58 million |
| |
| Estimated
Number of New Infections in 2001 : 0.16 Million |
| |
| Previous
Years |
| Year |
1999 |
2000 |
|
|
|
| No.
of cases |
0.2 million |
0.16 million |
|
|
|
| |
| Source
: National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) |
|
| |
| |
| Figures |
| Value | Year | Source | | 2,50,000 | 2007 | NACO/ UNAIDS | | 0.36% | 2007 | NACO/ UNAIDS | | - | - | - | | - | - | - | | - | - | - | | - | - | - |
|
|
| Estimated Number
of HIV cases (Adults and children) |
| Adults (15-49 years) |
| Women (15-49) |
| Children |
| Esimated number
of deaths due to AIDS |
| Estimated Number
of AIDS orphans |
|
| |
| An
Overview of the Spread and Prevalence of HIV/AIDS in India |
| |
| HIV
Estimates (2003) |
| |
| Annual
Report 2002-2004 |
| |
| |
| Back to Top |
| |
| |
| National HIV Policy India |
| |
| UN Support |
| |
- Ministry of Human Resource Development (Dept. of Youth
& Sports) involved in implementation of "Universities
Talk AIDS" Programme of the National Service Scheme
covering 158 universities, 5000 colleges and 2000 senior
secondary schools.
- National Council of Education Research & Training
(NCERT) involved in development of school curriculum package
for integration of HIV/AIDS into school education (extra-curricular
activities).
- A national consultation on the integration of HIV/AIDS
into school education has been organised under the auspices
of UNAIDS by UNESCO, UNFPA, and UNICEF with financial support
from NACO and the active involvement of the Department of
Education and five key states where these activities have
been implemented. Follow-up is expected between NACO and
the Department of Education with support from the UN System.
- Nehru Yuvak Kendra (NYK) involved in the implementation
of non-formal educational approaches and rural outreach
programmes on HIV/AIDS through its national volunteer network
in communities in the country.
- The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has been
of assistance through its Directorate of Audiovisual Publicity
(DAVP), the Song & Drama Division, All India Radio and
Doordarshan (national television service) in providing time
and forums for the dissemination of public service programming
and messages on HIV/AIDS prevention and care.
- Ministry of Railways undertook in 1994 a study of risk
behaviors amongst its employees with assistance from UNDP.
Survey results encouraged Ministry of Railways to design
and approach NACO with INR 220 million proposal for response
to HIV/AIDS in Railways sector; proposal currently under
discussion with NACO.
- Ministry of Defence (Health Services) conducts IEC programmes
and HIV screening within defence populations with assistance
from NACO.
|
| |
| World Bank Support |
| |
| The Bank has provided two IDA credits to support
India's National AIDS Control Program in collaboration with
the World Health Organization, other donors and UNAIDS. Through
its general health projects and dialogue with other South Asian
countries, the Bank is focusing on HIV/AIDS as a major public
health and development issue. In India, the Bank is supporting
the country's ongoing program to reduce the growth of HIV infection
and strengthen capacity to respond to the epidemic through information
awareness efforts, focused interventions promoting behaviour
change, voluntary testing and counselling, and reducing transmission
by blood transfusions and occupational exposure. |
| |
| Support by Industry |
| |
| Industrial federations (West Bengal Chamber of
Commerce & Industry, Confederation of Indian Industry, Federation
of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry) becoming involved
in stimulating discussions on needs for industrial sectors response
to HIV/AIDS. "AIDS & the Workplace" advocacy &
IEC package developed by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
with assistance from WHO/UNAIDS/USAID for promotion of industry
action on HIV/AIDS prevention and workplace policies. The Trucking
Corporation of India (TCI) is actively participating in a national
network of NGO service providers being coordinated with support
from ODA for the assurance of HIV/STD interventions for truck
drivers. |
| |
| Legislation and policies |
| |
- Goa Public Health Act Amendment of 1985 (Section 53.I.vii)
allowed the public health authorities and police discretion
to isolate people with HIV/AIDS; repealed in 1996.
- Railway Board Administrative Notification of 1989 designating
HIV/AIDS as "infectious disease" which can allow
denial of passage; rescinded in 1996.
- Draft legislation in 1989 Session of National Parliament,
which was evaluated as extremely prejudicial to rights of
PLWH/As withdrawn after intervention of WHO and national
authorities.
- 1992 Administrative Notification from Minister of Health
& Family Welfare (GOI) to all State Governments directing
them to ensure non-discriminatory access to treatment and
care for PLWH/As in all Central and State Government health
care institutions.
- The Government has, by Administrative Order, required
the screening for HIV of all units of blood to be used for
transfusion purposes.
- May 1997 Mumbai High Court Judgment held that employers
cannot base employment decisions on HIV status of employee.
|
|
| |
| WHO
- Global Atlas Of Infectious Diseases: Dynamic Country wise
Epidemiological Fact Sheets on HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted
Infections |
| |
| |
| Web Resources |
| |
| Government of India |
| www.goidirectory.nic.in/ |
| |
| National AIDS Control Organisation |
| www.nacoonline.org/ |
| |
| UN Agencies |
| |
| UNDP |
| UNDP is the UN's global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. |
| http://www.undp.org.in/ |
| |
| UNAIDS |
| UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, brings together the efforts and resources of ten UN system organisations to the global AIDS response. |
| www.unaids.org.in |
| |
| World Health Organisation |
| The World Health Organization is the United Nations specialized agency for health. WHO's objective, as set out in its Constitution, is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. |
| www.who.int/countries/ind/en/ |
| |
| World Bank |
| The World Bank is a vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world. We are made up of two unique development institutions owned by 184 member countries—the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). |
| www.worldbank.org/in |
| |
| National and International Organisations |
| |
| Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |
| Through our Global Health program, the foundation works to close the gap between rich and poor countries by encouraging new research and supporting healthcare organizations that reach people most in need. |
| http://www.gatesfoundation.org/default |
| |
| USAID |
| USAID provides economic and humanitarian assistance in more than 100 countries to provide a better future for all. |
| http://www.usaid.gov/pop_health/aids/ |
| |
| Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) |
| CIDA’s mandate is to support sustainable development in developing countries in order to reduce poverty and contribute to a more secure, equitable, and prosperous world. The Agency’s work is concentrated in the poorest countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. |
| http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/ |
| |
| UK Development (DFID) |
| The Department for International Development (DFID) is the part of the UK Government that manages Britain's aid to poor countries and works to get rid of extreme poverty. |
| http://www.dfid.gov.uk/countries/asia/india.asp |
| |
| Population Council |
| Horizons is a team of US-based and international organizations working to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and mitigate its impact on individuals and communities. |
| http://www.popcouncil.org/horizons/ |
| |
| CDC Global AIDS Program in India |
| The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is one is the principal agency in the United States government for protecting the health and safety of all. |
| www.cdc.gov/nchstp/od/gap/countries/india.htm |
| |
| Family Health International |
| Family Health International (FHI) is among the largest and most established non-profit organizations active in international public health with a mission to improve lives worldwide through research, education, and services in family health. |
| www.fhi.org/en/cntr/asia/india/indiaofc.html |
| |
| Solidarity and action against the HIV infection in India |
| SAATHII strengthens prevention and treatment services in India through information dissemination, networking, technical assistance and advocacy. |
| http://www.saathii.org/ |
| |
| The International HIV/AIDS Alliance |
| The mission of the International HIV/AIDS Alliance (the Alliance) is to reduce the spread of HIV and meet the challenges of AIDS. They are committed to prevent HIV infection; improve access to treatment, care and support; and lessen the impact of AIDS. |
| http://www.aidsalliance.org/sw7221.asp |
| |
| Save the Children |
| HIV/AIDS, family conflicts, misuse of drugs and alcohol, lack of care and support, parents in jails are some reasons why children are without family support and/or on the street. The aim of our work is to promote social work as a support to families and children in difficult circumstances, but also to support quality counselling as well as lobbying the Vietnamese Government to enforce laws that protect children. |
| www.rb.se/eng/AboutUs/Ourworkinternationally/southeastasia/ |
| |
| International Centre for Research on Women |
| ICRW is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of women in poverty, advancing equality and human rights, and contributing to broader economic and social well-being. |
| http://www.icrw.org/html/projects/projects_hivaids.htm |
| |
| Others |
| |
| National Aids Research Institute |
| The National AIDS Research Institute (NARI) was established in 1992 with the mission to provide leadership in biomedical research on HIV/AIDS in India with an aim to compliment and strengthen the National AIDS Control Programmes. |
| www.icmr.nic.in/pinstitute/nari.htm |
| |
| National Institute of Communicable Diseases |
| The National Institute of Communicable Diseases was established to develop a national centre for teaching and research in various disciplines of epidemiology and control of communicable diseases. |
| http://www.nicd.org/ |
| |
| MDG Report 2005 |
| http://mospi.nic.in/login_correct1.htm?rept_id=ssd04_2005&type=CSO_SSD |
| |
| State Human Development Report |
| http://www.undp.org.in/hdrc/shdr/ |
| |
| Back to Top |
| |
| |
| UN Offices |
| |
|
| |
| |
| UNDP ( United
Nations Development Programme ) |
UNAIDS (Joint
United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS ) |
| |
|
UN Resident Coordinator &
UNDP Resident Representative
55 Lodi Estate
New Delhi - 110003
India
Mail Address:UNDP India
P.O.Box No.3059
New Delhi 110 003, India
Phone: |
