Business leaders asked to come up with HIV policy

[Guest guest]

Business leaders asked to come up with HIV policy

The Times of India 19 September 2001,

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee urged business leaders to

come out with a transparent employment policy that does not discriminate against

people with HIV-both for recruitment and at the workplace.

Welcoming the launch of a business trust for the prevention and control of HIV

by the Confederation of Indian Industry, at his official residence on Tuesday,

Vajpayee said HIV/AIDS is one of the most serious health challenges facing us.

" It is estimated that nearly four million Indians are afflicted by it. This is

one of the largest populations of people living with HIV/AIDS in any country. "

The CII has set up a trust so as to have an organisation which could supplement

the government's efforts with funds, manpower and time. The CII assured that

funds will not be a limiting factor in fighting what it called one of the two

great wars of the 21st century. The other, it said, was terrorism.

Commending the effort as an example in philanthropy and leadership, the PM hoped

that the Trust would expand its activities rapidly and take up responsibilities

of creating awareness and undertaking intervention programmes.

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Dr. Jagdish Harsh

François-Xavier Bagnoud (INDIA)

E-mail: jamworld@...

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