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Rajya Sabha Introduces Bill to Protect HIV Patients from Discrimination

by Dr. Enozia Vakil on Feb 12 2014 3:54 PM

 Rajya Sabha Introduces Bill to Protect HIV Patients from Discrimination
To protect people suffering from HIV/AIDS against discrimination, a bill has been introduced in the Rajya Sabha.
The HIV/AIDS (Prevention and Control) Bill 2014 was introduced in the upper house amid din.

The draft of the bill was finalised in 2006, and civil society groups and HIV/AIDS-affected people have long been demanding passage of the draft legislation.

Under the proposed law, HIV/AIDS-affected people will be provided protection against discrimination in employment, healthcare, education, travel and insurance, in both public as well as private sectors.

The bill proposes imprisonment and fine for those spreading hatred and discrimination against HIV patients.

According to official information, a fine up to Rs.10,000 and two years' imprisonment has been proposed as punishment for spreading hatred against people with HIV/AIDS.

The bill also proposes a legal commitment to provide Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) by the government to the patients as far as possible.

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Source-IANS


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