Free travel facility likely to be extended to HIV/AID patients

A proposal of free travel for the HIV/AIDs patients was pending approval of the state government, Maharashtra State AIDS Control Society Project Director Dr Kamlakar Phand said.

He was speaking at the inauguration of single window service centre at the Thane District Collectorate for HIV/AIDs patients. Also present on the occasion was District Collector Dr Mahendra Kalyankar, Thane Civil Surgeon Dr B C Kempi Patil, and DHO Dr B S Sonawane.

The Collector inaugurated the single window facility at the Collectorate. The centre is being managed jointly by the district health department and the Collectorate.

On the occasion 19 patients were given pension under the Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Yojana. Dr Phand said the single window facility for the HIV/AIDs patients has already started in the districts of Sangli, Solapur and Yavatmal and Thane is the latest addition.

A survey by Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART) centres during the period 2007 to 2016 indicated that there were a total of 36,574 HIV positive cases in the districts of Thane and Palghar.

The HIV infected patients will get benefits under various schemes like the Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Yojana, Bal Sangopan Yojana, Antyodaya Yojana, Rajiv Gandhi Jivdai Yojana, Indira Awas Yojana, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, Shravan Bal Yojana, Gharkul Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jandhan Yojana and Senior Citizens Pension Yojana among others at the single window facility, the official stated.