Improving access to Educational Scholarships for infected and affected children of PLHIV

  Mehsana is a Category- A District in Gujarat with ANC prevalence of 1.50 % (as per HSS- 2008). Migration rates in Mehsana District from/to other States and Districts are very high. Educational scholarships provide Motivation to parents in continuing the education of their children.

The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment Govt. of Gujarat (GR-No.anth /102009/ n.ba.37/chh) provides educational scholarships to infected or affected children of PLHIV. According to this GR, infected or affected children of PLHIV can avail a scholarship of Rs. 2000/- to 3000/- per year. Meeting with District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) Mehsana Staff, DIC Staff & DIS to discuss about educational scholarships to infected or affected children of PLHIV was held in July-2012.

Efforts to provide advantages of the scheme to the entitled were made in coordination of DAPCU and DLN. DAPCU-Mehsana along with DLN, DIC and DCPU-Mehsana initiated efforts towards facilitating the scheme for infected and affected children. The processes are outlined in the flow cited at the end.

In the year 2012- 13, 85 children received scholarships amounting to a sum of        Rs. 2, 27,000. Fresh applications for scholarships are invited each year.

For further information, DAPCU Mehsana can be contacted through DTHO, Dr. D. C. Naik -8980041001 and DIS Bhavesh Rana-7567889079, E-mail dapcu_mehsana@yahoo.Com). DIC coordinator Rohitbhai can be contacted on 9662515342.

Process of facilitating scholarships in Mehsana District is as follows:

Step 1- Identification of HIV infected and affected children

-          Children are identified through positive network, ART centers and ICTCs.

Step 2- Application

-          Meeting with DCPU Mehsana Staff.

-      Taluka wise Meeting of PLHA & DIC to support parents/guardians in filling relevant forms. DCPU Mehsana Staff also attends the Meeting to provide support for filling the form.

-          -Documents required are:

o   Certificate from school principal

o   Mark sheet of the previous year

o   ICTC report of child or parent

o   Death certificate (in case of death of parents)

Step 3- Submission and Review

o   Forms submit to observation home through DCPU-Mehsana for review.

o   Approved Forms are forwarded by the observation home to the  District Authorities

Step 4- Award of Scholarship

o   The scholarship cheques are forwarded from observation homes to DCPU-Mehsana to Taluka Panchayat office & Taluka Panchayat for further forwarding to concern School/Collage.

o   DCPU-Mehsana reports all the activities to the DAPCU and positive network