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Home » Interview » VSJain
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INTERVIEW - Mr. V. S. Jain,
Chairman, SAIL |
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| How/what do you feel about
the gravity of HIV/AIDS epidemic in India? |
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| The world-wide HIV/AIDS scenario is serious enough and India
is not an exception. Government of India is alive to the situation
and has initiated various steps to prevent and control HIV/AIDS
epidemic. National AIDS Control Organisation [NACO] is the premier
agency of Government at the apex level which is co-ordinating
different programmes in states. Various UN agencies are also
working on different projects in associations with national
level Non-Governmental Organisations [NGOs]. |
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| A developing country like India needs to make all out efforts
in creating large-scale awareness in the general population
in prevention and control of HIV/AIDS. Prevention is the key
to success. NACO, through its initiatives and activities is
working on the same principle and SAIL is also engaged in implementing
its policies/directives at its plant/unit townships. |
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| How do you see the future of India in the
context of an expanding epidemic? |
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| With National AIDS Control Programme [Phase-II] already in
progress, the thrust on Information, Education and Communication
[IEC] strategies will ensure high level of awareness among rural
as well urban population, thus ensuring lower prevalence. |
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| What do you think needs to be done expeditiously? |
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| In my opinion, the programme should be expanded to include
all other sectors which are not being represented at present.
The focus should now shift to the unorganised sector and floating
population. Simultaneously, all out efforts should be made to
strengthen the health infrastructure available by providing
the medical care at affordable cost. |
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| What role can the private/corporate sector
play to help fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic? |
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| Corporate sector has a significant role in ensuring prevention
and control of HIV/AIDS. It should work in tandem with the Government
agencies, thus complementing and supplementing the efforts made
in this direction, by implementing the policies and directives
of NACO. Critical initiatives may include sensitisation exercises
of top level functionaries, advocacy programmes for the employees,
a company wide policy on HIV/AIDS. |
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| Are Indian companies demonstrating sufficient
Corporate Social Responsibility [CSR] in HIV/AIDS? |
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| Major industry leaders have already initiated various programmes
in combating HIV/AIDS and have demonstrated adequate Corporate
Social Responsibility in HIV AIDS. |
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| Has your organisation undertaken any HIV-related
initiative. If yes, could you please elaborate? |
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| SAIL has been a leader in discharging its social responsibility
by taking up various causes, which are the need of the day.
SAIL has already taken lot of initiatives and a Prevention &
Control of HIV/AIDS programme named "SAIL AIDS Control
Programme" [SACP] in association with NACO is already being
implemented across the company. Moreover, a policy on HIV/AIDS
has been prepared and approved by the Board of Directors. Click
here to read the SAIL's policy on HIV/AIDS. As part of inter-sectoral
collaboration, SAIL has initiated a multi-pronged programme
for implementing the policies and guidelines of NACO in its
plants/units townships. The programme has been in place since
1999-2000. All medical personnel have been trained as per the
WHO guidelines. Employees, their dependants and general population
are being covered under IEC programme. Major initiatives are: |
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(i) School AIDS Education Programme
(ii) Family Health Awareness Compaign [FHAC]
(iii) Safe Blood & Blood Products
(iv) Voluntary Counselling & Testing Centre [VCTC] |
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| Do you have any immediate plans on HIV-related
work? |
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| The SAIL AIDS Control Programme is already in its fourth year
and will continue in its endeavour of reversing the trend of
growth of HIV/AIDS in its plant/unit township and the country.
FHAC, targetted interventions for Contract Labour and Advocacy
Workshop/ Programme for employees are key thrust area being
undertaken this year. |
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| What should corporate/Public sector do
to the help the campaign against HIV/AIDS? |
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| Each organisation, whether in public or private sector, needs
to take up the challenge for prevention and control of HIV/AIDS.
This makes a good business decision also as the lower prevalence
of HIV/AIDS among employees/staff will ensure higher attendance,
productivity, profit and lower medical & leave costs. Industry
representatives like CII can also guide members in preparing
& implementing a sustainable HIV/AIDS Prevention & Control
Programme. |
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| In your opinion, what can public-private
partnership do to halt and reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS? |
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| As stated earlier, the corporate sector has significant role
in complementing and supplementing the efforts of Government
working towards prevention and control of HIV/AIDS. It has been
seen in the international scenario that public-private partnerships
do help in combating the prevalence of HIV/AIDS. A key example
of success is Thailand. Similar initiatives in our country,
of long lasting sustainable partnerships, can also provide success
stories for others to emulate. |
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| About
V.S. Jain |
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