A harassment episode sponsored by Dooradarshan Kerala

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum Members

It is as simple that you can telecast any allegations against anybody in the

Govt. owned Dooradarshan provided the authorities will ask you to sign a

statement putting the sole responsibilities and consequences of the issue on you

despite of any enquiry to its authenticity and the facts behind.

Dooradarshan Kendram, Thiruvananthapuram telecasted a programme torching on the

issues of HIV infected people of Kerala in the programme titled ¡Kalpana Show¢

in 2 parts on October 31st and November 3rd. It was anchored by South Indian

cine actress Ms. Kalpana and Mr. Asokan (PLHA from Palakkad district), Ms.

Bindu (PLHA from Kannur district), Dr. Velayudhan (Addl. Director, KSACS) and

Ms. Merci (Sthreevedi) were the participants in the discussion.

The programme created an impression that the issues of PLHAs in the state now is

nothing but the activities of CPK+ and its president, cited by Mr. Asokan.

It was CPK+ who took initiative on Asokan's case against the hospital

authorities in 2004 when he was seriously injured in a work place accident and

not provided with even first aid and medication for more than 24 hours by the

hospitals in Coimbatore, Palakkad and Thrissur. And it was through this incident

Asokan has been introduced to CPK+ and its activities. Asokan was a board member

of CPK+ until he quit from the post by himself followed by his own quandaries.

In Doordarshan's " Kalpana Show " he declared that Mr. ph K.O, president of

CPK+ is obviously spreading HIV virus, he has the evidences for that and the

same has been complained by VCTCs and PSH projects.

I wonder about the nature of those evidences with Asokan and surprise about the

confidentiality and basic ethics of HIV/AIDS counselling administered at the

VCTCs or PSH projects run by KSACS if they have complained publicly about a

person whoever he/she may be. (May be that VCTCs are renamed by KSACS as Jyothis

and Iam not sure what will be the revised name for the sexual health projects).

The motive of this allegation is suspicious as the same has been raised by a

board member of CPK+ itself few months before which also is supported by the

same complaint from VCTCs and PSHs. This issue is undergoing an enquiry

constituted by the board of CPK+ and the scandal is expected to be unearthed

soon. And it is almost clear that such an unreasonable allegation can¢t

withstand at any cost.

But in this situation, it was a conspiracy to publicise this issue to humiliate

Mr. ph and CPK+ through dragging this issue towards public attention to

alienate ph. It becomes evident when came to know that many people who are

involved in this field has been personally informed about the telecast of this

programme just after its recording to make sure that no body miss it. It was

also reported that ph¢s family members have been abused and threatened over

phone just after the programme.

Mr. ph K.O has started working with INP+ and CPK+ from its initial periods

and actively involved with various activities of these bodies both at national

and state levels which also include providing training for other members in

positive prevention and treatment care. He is elected as the president of CPK+

through a democratic process and only because his leadership qualities and

contributions he remain the president from its inception. Also CSWs, MSMs, IVDUs

and Women and children are the working groups of INP+ and its affiliated state

level networks to whom the services are to be extended.

Dooradarshan has committed a great mistake by telecasting such a baseless

allegation against a PLHA where he and his movement are trying hard to reduce

stigma and discrimination against PLHAs from the public. It is a dual injustice

from Doordarshan to the largest PLHA movement in Kerala that they didn't gave a

space for Mr. ph to clarify his part before telecasting it.

While the authorities contacted Ms. Beena, Asst. Station Director of

Thiruvananthapuram Dooradarshan, she told that neither Dooradarshan nor the

anchor of the programme have any responsibility of these issues. If any body is

affected by the programme, they can give a complaint to the Director of

Doordarshan in writing and if find genuine, a space will be provided for the

affected party in the same programme in the upcoming episodes. What a

responsibility and a media obligation !

The anchor and the women activist in the programme urged an enquiry and actions

against ph and promised all their kind hearted support for this mission

while the Addl. Director of KSACS said nothing on the issue.

Dr. Velayudhan is working closely with CPK+ and Mr. ph for years and he

could have atleast comment on this there itself as ph has been working also

as a staff for 6 years in a project supported by KSACS.

Also I pity Dooradarshan for not having honesty and justice in their programme

and Ms. Kalapana for her ignorance in anchoring such a programme that the same

ph has been presented excellent by her own sister and famous cine star

Ms.Urvasi for his and CPK+s services to the fellow community by working openly

in this society in an event in another Malayalam channel few months back.

I am not sure if the Ministry of Communication and Broadcasting is not having a

policy on the programme authenticity of Doordarshan or any media policy is there

for NACO pertaining to publicizing issues of PLHAs as a Govt. body authorized in

our country for prevention, care and support.

I would like to note nothing more than this on the sanguinity that the AIDS

activists will recognize the pain of those who are affected by this programme.

In solidarity

Prasanth Kumar Nellickal

e-mail: <om_saivam@...>