Social Benefit Schemes - Loans have been sanctioned to 200 PLHIVs in Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh

This write up on this achievement  was originally submitted in Telegu by the Guntur DAPCU. An english abstract in english is provided below. To read the full telegu version - click here

Rs. 10,000/- has been sanctioned as a loans to 200 People Living with HIV/AIDS by SC Corporation on 8^th April2013 , Guntur

         SHIP is an organization, run by People Living with HIV/AIDS(Positive Network).They approached Dr. Umadevi, DACO and Addl. DM &HO(AIDS & Leprosy), Guntur for getting benefit for self employment of HIV infected women in the district.  The Addl. DM & HO (A&L) discussed this proposal with Sri. S. Suresh Kumar, IAS, District Collector and requested support to the unemployed womenPLHA.   The District collector responded immediately and instructed to list 200 SC PLHAs who require loans and instructed the administration to process the request on it its receipt.

        SHIP listed the beneficiaries submitted the list to SC Corporation for loans. DAPCU and SHIP organized a meeting and  gathered all beneficiaries on 8^thApril 2013 at the Meeting Hall of the SC Corporation and invited the District Collector as a Chief Guest and Dr. P. Rani, ED, SC Corporation as a Guest.  Dr. Umadevi, DACO and Addl. DM &HO(AIDS & Leprosy), Mrs. Ramadevi, President, SHIP and Mr. Ramesh Babu, President, TNP Plus expressed their gratitude for support of the Distinct Collector and ED, SC Corporations.  The District Collector addressed the gathering in the meeting and shared that the government is doing lot of work and help for People living with HIV/AIDS and with these loans women can live on their own and feed their children and send their children to school.  The cheques Rs. 10000/- were distributed to the beneficiaries by District Collector.

Kurnool supports PLHIV in getting Loans

Financial Support for PLHAs through Mainstreaming

The District AIDS Prevention & Control Unit –DAPCU, Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh State take initiative for providing financial support to PLHAs through SC Corporation, Kurnool under Mainstreaming. During DAPCC meeting.   We requested all line department to provide support and give preference to the PLHAs in the Social Welfare schemes and Sri. C. Sudarshan Reddy, I.A.S, Collector & Dist. Magistrate, Kurnool has instructed all Line Departments who are under under social security and district initiative programmes to provide necessary support to the PLHAs for getting benefit on priority basis. 

The DAPCU along with District Level Network approached to the Executive Directors of SC,ST,BC & Minority Finance corporations and we were explained the process, required documents and budgetary provisions for beneficiaries.  The DPM shared this message to the PLHAS through Network, ART & TI NGOs. DLN collected 45 applications along with required documents and submitted to the SC Corporation through proper channel certified by the Addl. District Medical Officer (AIDS & Leprosy), Kurnool.

As per the list submitted by DAPCU,  the SC corporation did enquiry as per guidelines without breaching confidentiality and get the  report from the concerned MPDOs  regarding their residence etc.  SC Corporation sanctioned financial support Rs.30,000/- (Rupees Thirty thousand only) for each individual PLHAs and list consist of 24+13=37 PLHAS was shared for final certification and approval. The ADM&HO & DPM verified, certified and submitted to the SC Corporation on the same day.  

The Assets (Loans) overall Rs.11,10,000/- (Rupees  eleven lakhs ten thousand only) were distributed to 37 PLHAs. on the occasion of Birthday celebration of Sri. Babu jagajeevanram on 5^th April,2013 for  24 PLHAs ,  in second spell they  distributed the allotted loans for 13 PLHAs without labeling them as PLHAs on the occasion Sri.Dr.B.R.Ambedkar,  Birthday on 14^th April,2013 in the presence Sri.Sudakar babu, MLC, Sri. Labbi venkataswamy, MLA, Sri.Sudarshan Reddy,I.A.S, Collector & District Magistrate, Kurnool  Sri.Chnadarsekhar Reddy, I.P.S. Superintendent of Police, Kurnool and other dignitaries. 

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

Akola District administration’s initiative Makes PLHIV self sufficient.

Akola district has more than 7400 PLHIV.  Most of the PLHIV population came from below poverty line (BPL). Maintaining the livelihood is difficult for these BPL families. It was very important not only to maintain the health of On-ART patients but also to provide the quality of life to all PLHIV. DAPCU identified this and discussed the matter with Honorable District Collector Shri Parimal Singh. DAPCU run the intervention to provide social benefit scheme (Financial Assistance) under the guidance of Hon. DC. Under this intervention DAPCU could able to provide benefit to more than 1200 PLHIVwith the help of PLHIV network through which they received Rs 700 per month from the Collector office. 

Hon. DC’s involvement in the program was admirable. DC has called the meeting of General Manager District Industrial Center (DIC) Shri. Uday Puri,  DPO,  DACO, Residential Deputy Collector and MCED officials to analyze the way to strengthen PLHIV. The outcome of the meeting was positive. It has been decided that DIC will train more than 300 PLHIV for different training programs (garment manufacturing, leather bag manufacturing, seed processing, mashroom manufacturing, mobile repairing, electrical maintenance, etc) and funding for the said training will be provided by DC under DPDC. DAPCU, in coordination with DIC and VNP+ started the first batch of female PLHIV for garment and leather bag manufacturing. During this training it has been taken care that PLHIV not only received the technical knowledge but also get income through small scale industry.

At the end of the training session, DAPCU had arranged the industrial visit for these ladies at garment manufacturing industry at Amravati MIDC. The owner of the industry was so impressed with the concept that he offered the jobs to the interested ladies. Seven of the ladies were found to be interested to join the company.

It was a great challenge in front of DAPCU to continue the enthusiasm of these ladies as they had no sewing machines to continue with this work. DAPCU had arranged the sewing machine for this group with the help of some donors.

Out of these 30 ladies, seven have decided to join the garment industry at Amravati, eight has started their own work and three has started the shop at Akola.

Sangli case study shared in Inter-Ministerial Conference for Mainstreaming HIV

Sl. No.	Heads	Detail information
1	Background	The Health condition of PLHIV is deteriorating day by day; therefore, it is difficult for them to do hard work for their livelihood. This effects the family of PLHIV. They & their children (infected & affected) need Financial support, Educational support, Nutritional Support, etc. There are many Government  schemes for the poor people. But it is difficult for the  PLHIVs  access   these govt. schemes (Due to self stigma & lack of knowledge regarding these schemes)
2	Objective	To give knowledge about govt. scheme           To give all documents at one roof relates to govt. scheme           Sensitize govt. officials about PLHIVs problems
3	Process	District level meeting with District Officials & NGOs working in HIV/AIDS is held under the chairmanship of Hon. Mr. Shyam Vardhane, District Collector Sangli.          During the meeting debriefed about the promotional camp organized by Avert Society at Nagpur District,  to provide the Govt benefit  schemes for  PLHIVs & their children (infected & affected) under one roof. In this meeting following decisions were taken ·         All the  concerned officers should be  present, for this camp ·         NGOs will mobilize needy PLHIVs to this camp ·         Health Staff will issue disability certificate
4	Name of the Schemes	Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Yojana            Balsangopan Yojana          BPL & Antyoday Ration Card           New Ration Card
5	Activities	ZP DHO Office will display the information board about Camp & required documents at PHC level.           Civil Surgeon Office will display the information board about Camp & required documents at SDH & RH Level.           Aamhich Aamce (DIC) will display the information board about Camp & required documents at ART center.                    Date of Camp & Area Covering 1.       24.11.2010 - SMK Corporation 2.       29.11.2010 - Miraj Tahasil 3.       06.12.2010 - Khanapur & Kadegaon Tahasil 4.       14.12.2010 - K. Mahankal Tahasil 5.       20.12.2010 - Shirala & Walawa Tahasil 6.       27.12.2010 - Tasgaon & Palus Tahasil
6	Target Audience	PLHIV affected & infected Children/Men & Women
7	Reach	Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Yojana - 397            BPL  Ration Card                       - 296           Antyoday Ration Card                -  82            New Ration Card                        -  11            Balsangopan Yojana                   -  80
8	Monitoring	DAPCU has the close monitoring over the process and has close contacts with the revenue department and women & child welfare department.
9	Action taken	Wherever the problem arises DAPCU streamline the situation.
10	Output	linking more than 200 CLHIV to “Bal sangopan” Scheme, of which 154 received the benefits (Rs.5,000 per child per year),            Linking 346 PLHIV to “Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Yojana”, of which 329 received the benefits.            Linked 296 for “BPL RATION CARD”, out of them 38 received.           After this camp activity these dept. start to sanction PLHIVs proposals on priority basis.
11	Plan of action	The Beneficiaries from Sangli district got the benefit of Social Benefit Scheme. The revenue department  and Women & Child welfare department coordinating strongly with the DAPCU.

MSACS Poster on Facilitating Access to Social Benefit Schemes

We are very happy to share a contribution from Maharashtra State AIDS Control Society. This is a poster presented during the Inter Ministerial Mainstreaming Conference held at NACO in Dec 2012. The poster highlights the work undertaken by the districts in facilitating access to social benefit schemes in the state. DAPCUs have played a major role in these processes . To view and download the original please click on this link 

Central Delhi DAPCU shares experiences of a TI

DAPCU Cenral Delhi is pleased to share with you efforts of MAITRI a TI NGO in getting entitlements for Migrant Communities

MAITRI a Delhi-based developmental humanitarian NGO is committed to ensuring public health, education, and social equity for the most vulnerable populations in India. Maitri draws its inspiration from the Sanskrit meanings of the word, which are "loving-kindness" and "compassion. "Founded in 2005 in India, Maitri addresses social issues such as Violence against women, Domestic Violence, public health issues such as HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and health and welfare for vulnerable populations, care and support of destitute and abandoned widows, and educational opportunities for underprivileged children from the slums.

As part of its Community Empowerment, Maitri works with Delhi SACS for migrants and homeless population in Central District of Delhi. They have already done the mapping, site validation and need assessment of Central District to estimate the size of population in the project area, identify their basic needs of food, shelter, health and other basic requirements of services provided by the Government.

As far as the migrants and homeless issue is concerned Maitri feels these communities and slum dwellers are the most critical components of urban development today. Extremely skewed development processes, triggered by adverse impacts of neo-liberal forces, have ensured that urban poverty remains an area of significant and persistent neglect. With this conceptual base Maitri initiated its long-term intervention with the migrant and slum communities. Through this project it works on awareness generation including legal rights, community empowerment, health support, formation of local groups, make them aware of social welfare schemes and providing hand-holding support in accessing the same in destination.

Through its rich experience, Maitri has taken an initiative to facilitate the said community to get their identity in Delhi by getting their Voter ID cards. This identity will definitely ensure them to get the government facilities in Delhi area. To achieve the above mentioned target, Maitri contacted to the main authorities of Govt. Social Welfare Scheme and organized an Advocacy meeting with them. Maitri has successfully convinced them for the same facility to the target population and got permission from Govt. Authorities to facilitate in accessing the Voter ID for migrant and homeless population in Pahad Ganj, Basant Road, RK Ashram Metro, Azmeri Gate, Kamla Market, GB Road, Karol Bagh area of Central District of Delhi. Maitri has Started providing information to the target population for receiving the same facility and fill the Form 6 (Application for inclusion of name in electoral roll) from 5^th of November to 20^th November, 2012.

Before going to implement of the said programme, team prepared plan and strategy to make a successful approach and result. Team has targeted these groups to be approached for the same from7:30 AM to 2:00 PM in the morning and 7:00 PM to 10:30 PM in the evening. To make this step successful, team was divided in to two groups in two above mentioned different times. 

Team has experienced very positive response from the target community.They have shown their interest to be enrolled themselves in including their name in electoral roll and started filling form 6 to get their ID in Delhi. Teams have successfully registered 1500 migrants for their Voter ID.

Maitri has been assured by the Govt. Authorities for continuing the same process in future also.   In near future Maitri targets to cover all the poor and marginalized in-migrant as well as homeless population in central district of Delhi.

Social Benefit Schemes Case Study: Hingoli District

Hingoli District

 Hingoli District ART Centre has 2439 Pre-ART registration from 2002 to June 2012. By analyzing the data from last three years it was evident that PLHIV in Hingoli district were unable to receive the benefit of social benefit schemes.

To provide these benefits to the PLHIV, DAPCU has prepared the town wise data of the PLHIV for social benefit scheme. DAPCU has also prepared the planning for special camp to provide benefit of social benefit scheme to PLHIV.

The following data-table shows the situation before the arrangement of Special Camps.

	Scheme wise Registration of PLHA – status prior to focused strategy
District	Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Yogna	Balsangopan Yogna	Bus Concession Scheme	Ration Card Scheme	Special Nutritional Scheme
Hingoli	16	07	00	09	00

The town-wise PLHIV details and the benefits received by them was presented in the DAPCC meeting in the presence of Hon. District Collector. During the July 2012 DAPCC meeting, in the presence of Additional Collector this planning for Special Benefit Scheme Camp was sanctioned. DC ordered to give the letters to the concerned department head and advised them to complete the process from 27 August 2012 to 26 Sept 2012.

Communication about the responsibility allocation was sent to Tehsildar, District supply officer, District women & child welfare officer and District social justice officer. Drop in center was actively involved in communicating the message of special camps to PLHIV and also provided forms of social benefit scheme and supported PLHIV in preparing the application.

     The effect of Camps can be seen from the following table.  

	Scheme wise Registration of PLHA
District	Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Yogna	Balsangopan Yogna	Bus Concession Scheme	Ration Card Scheme	Special Nutritional Scheme
Hingoli	196	49	190	27	61

The Tehsildar has contributed a lot in Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Yojana by sending their representatives to the concern spots of camp and ZP Social Justice Officer has taken the great efforts for Bus concession.

This special benefit camp has established the pillar of self right’s in PLHA’s mind. DAPCU and DIC continued their efforts by sending beneficiaries forms to the concern department and by taking the follow up of the activities.