K'taka police emerge saviours for stigma-hit AIDS victims

Bangalore, Apr 22 (UNI) The Karnataka police have taken the lead in the fight against the stigma attached to HIV/AIDS and consequent ill-treatment meted out to victims by introducing 'HIV/AIDS' Workplace Policy', which provides the personnel affected with the dreaded disease to be treated at par with any other employee.

The policy, the first of its kind by any State police, envisages equal treatment for employees affected with AIDS while in service and provides legal rights to maintain secrecy of their ailment and extended treatment, according to the policy made available to UNI.

Under the new policy, the life threatening disease would not constitute an exclusion criterion for any position or post in the force and recruitment would be based only on the candidate's fitness and ability to do the job. Hence, those afflicted with the disease need not hesitate to apply for a job in the police force. However, prospective employees would be required to undergo routine medical checkup to determine the candidate's fitness, but it would not include an HIV test.

Hailing the policy as a ''path breaking effort'', Karnataka Director General and Inspector General of Police K R Srinivasan, launching the policy here recently, appreciated the spirit of collaboration between the police department and the institutions to strengthen efforts to prevent and control the spread of HIV.

According to the guiding principles of the policy, employees affected with AIDS have the same rights and obligations as other staff members and they should be protected against all forms of unfair discrimination based on their HIV status and minimise the possibility of HIV infection and transmission among staff members and their families.

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