Bill to end HIV/AIDS discrimination introduced

A bill aiming to protect people with HIV/AIDS against discrimination was introduced in the Rajya Sabha Tuesday.

The HIV/AIDS (Prevention and Control) Bill, 2014, was introduced in the upper house by Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.

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 legislation.

Under the proposed law, HIV/AIDS-affected people will be provided protection against discrimination in employment, health care, 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 patients as far as possible.

Activists Tuesday welcomed the introduction of the bill.

"We are very happy today since the bill has been introduced in the Rajya Sabha. We still have a long way to go, but today is an important milestone," said Anand Grover, director of Lawyers Collective.