SALEM: Chinnanoor Panchayat left yet another mark on its long list of achievements. A recipient of over seven awards including the best panchayat award last year stole a lead resolving to treat HIV/AIDS victims with dignity and to disseminate information among the villagers so as to tackle the disease without fear or prejudice.For the first time in Salem District the entire village members at the Grama Saba meeting on Monday took oath to work towards creating a stigma and discrimination-free environment for people living with HIV.“Our Panchayat has always given importance for health and hygiene. We have conducted a lot of health camps through Varumun Kappome Thittam. We have organised many health camps and awareness camps for various issues”, said Sekar, President of Chinnanoor Panchayat, a Gram Nirmal Purushkar awardee. He said “a meeting held last year for panchayat leaders, made us realise the importance for the community to take ownership and contribute to problems confronting it. It is necessary to accept people who are living with HIV as part of society”, he said at the Grama Sabha meeting.Dr L Arunachalam, District Programme Manager, District Aids Prevention and Control Unit (DAPCU), said it was bold initiative of the panchayat leaders and villagers. The collective resolve will help greatly breaking the misconceptions that lead to discrimination against HIV and AIDS victims. Such efforts will help us to respond to the epidemic without stigmatising people who are affected. DAPCU District Supervisor said that this Independence Day has brought hope to every person living with HIV that such efforts would bring in freedom from human rights violations, free from the fear of disclosing their status.Nagarajan, President, Salem Network of Positive People, narrated his own experience to the villagers in facing the disease with confidence. “More village leaders need to tackle this issue and address the discrimination calling for upholding rights of affected people. Awareness on equal rights and entitlements is essential to address the discrimination”, he said. Panchayat officials along with the villagers took an oath. To stress their support to people living with HIV, the panchayat members, villagers and other district officials left their signatures on a banner placed at the venue. A van consisting of folk performers travelling across the district for 50 days as part of the folk media campaign launched by the Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society rendered performances.
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