Social support alleviates HIV stigma
Vidya Kulkarni “I have appeared for Class X examination and am eagerly waiting for the results. I want to study further and fulfill my promise to my mother. She wanted to see me educated and standing on my own feet,” asserts Aamrapali in an unwavering tone. Sadly, her mother, who died of AIDS two years ago, will not see her daughter’s success. But it is the mother’s wish that primarily fuels Aamrapali’s course of life and gives her strength to overcome social stigma. Aamrapali received the Navjyoti award, instituted jointly by UNICEF and Doordarshan Sahyadri, in appreciation of her grit and perseverance.
She started doing agricultural wage work to get Rs. 20/- per day. Aamrapali recalls, “My mother’s wages were not enough even for our daily meal. So I discontinued my studies and started going to work with her. My mother felt very sorry but had no choice either. She had always encouraged me for my education.” Seventeen year old Aamrapali from Latur has experienced unexpected twists and turns in past few years. Like many other kids, she grew up in the affectionate care of her parents, and three younger siblings, till 10 years of age. Her father, an unskilled laborer, was working in Mumbai while the rest of the family stayed back in their village in Latur. The father worked hard and sent money regularly and visited occasionally. All seemed well till her father started getting sick, so much so that he had to come back to the village for rest and treatment. The family visited several doctors, but his health kept getting worse and eventually he died. During the course of his illness, it became clear that he had contacted HIV infection. The mother also tested positive. The father’s death shattered the family’s dreams. Whatever meager savings put aside were spent for the father’s treatment and the mother had to start working for day to day survival. Survival was not the only problem that Aamrapali’s family had to deal with after her father’s death. Soon the cause of his death and the mother’s health status became known in the village.
Aamrapali remembers resentment by neighbors and differential treatment meted out by school friends. “Nobody would sit with us in the class. My siblings were too young to understand the reason behind the sudden change in behavior around. But I was old enough to understand that it was because of people’s fear about the deadly virus named HIV.” Aamrapali recalls elders warning children to keep away from the family. “Do not mix with them, do not eat with them. They will pass on the disease to you, so keep away,” they would say. Too young to counter this social ostracism, the children had withdrawn into their shells untill they came in contact with Aashadeep. Aashadeep, a social organization working in Nilanga block of Latur district, approached the family when they came to know about their plight. Aamrapali’s grandparents were ready to take the mother and children back to their village. But their education would have suffered due to the sudden change of place.
With the NGO’s help, the boys were admitted in a suitable hostel, whereas Aamrapali was enrolled in Gruhini Shikshan, a two-year in-house training course for girls run by the organisation. At Aashadeep Aamrapali learned a number of skills, such as tailoring, embroidering, house keeping, but most importantly she learned to cope with her reality and gained confidence to face the situation. Her HIV test was done to confirm that she was not a carrier of the virus. “Life in the institution was quite different from what we faced in the village. No one discriminated against me for being an HIV orphan,” she says. When Aamrapali lost her mother two years ago, Aashadeep helped her to pass Class VII examination by requesting the school to be considerate about her non-attendance. Later the organisation also helped her to appear for Class X open school examination. As shared by Sister Sheetal from Aashadeep their course offers support and space for rural girls to learn new life skills and become aware of themselves. Many girls start their own work after gaining the skills. Aamrapali too has acquired a lot of skills and also works as a teacher for new entrants. Most importantly she aspires to have her own business of making jute bags in the near future. Aamrapali and her siblings chanced upon supportive grandparents and a voluntary organisation who shielded them against social stigma and also restored them their childhood. As a result they are saved from any sort of discrimination and deprivation today. Her story demonstrates how social support is so crucial for HIV affected children.
|
