Deepshika Prayana: Right Based Policy Advocacy Campaign

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum,

Rajasthan Network for People living with HIV/AIDS (RNP+), in partnership with

IMPACT Partners in Social Development has secured a Catalytic Grant from the

recently concluded UNIFEM round of Gender Equity Funds. This two year grant is

aimed at supporting the government of Rajasthan to develop and implement a

policy for ensuring the rights of Women living with HIV (WLHIV) in the state of

Rajasthan. The purpose of this grant is to " Draft a policy document in

consultation with the RSACS & government counterparts and other stakeholders

indicating the minimum package of services needed to be made available to women

living with HIV (WLHIV) as part of their right to survive with dignity and

support the system in ratifying and implementing the policy " . Additionally

UNICEF also committed to extend additional support for children affected by HIV

(CAHIV).

RNP+, UNIFEM & UNICEF together under this project is aiming to draft and submit

a policy document to the government of Rajasthan indicating minimum packages of

services to be made available to WLHIV and CAHIV in Rajasthan and to continue

successful advocacy initiatives to bring political will for ratification and

implementation of this proposed draft policy. This one-year long campaign was

officially inaugurated on March 8, 2010 on International Women's Day at

Raveendra Munch Open Theatre Jaipur, during a multi-effect partnership meet

where dignitaries like Hon'ble Health Minister government of Rajasthan and Smt.

Sharmila Tagaore were present along with the cordial presence of Principle

Health Secretary, Project Director RSACS, Mayor, media and other chief officials

from various departments and NGOs, and thousands of HIV+ women and children from

state wide were also present.

Deepshikha Pranayan (Journey with a lighten lamp) is an advocacy tool proposed

and inaugurated last year as a part of our yearlong campaign. Activities

conducted during last one year which has led to policy formulation include

community consultation with mixed group of people, diagnostic study with WLHIV

and policy, schemes and judgment analysis on HIV was done to assess the gaps and

needs of WLHIV and CAHIV. This has resulted in the formulation of draft policy

which may be incorporated by the Government either in the existing women and

children policy or announcement of separate policy on women and children. This

policy was drafted and submitted to the government of Rajasthan on December 1,

2010 in the auspicious presence of Hon'ble Health Minister. This policy was

developed in consultation with RSACS, WCD, Social Justice and Empowerment and

other government counterparts and civil society organizations. In continuation

to our effort from last year as a supportive tool, RNP+ had decided to use every

possible platform to proliferate right based mass advocacy efforts through this

Deepshika Pranayan to ensure increased recognition and improved allocation of

resources towards these policy provisions.

Two objectives we aim to achieve through this activity are:

1. Enlist support of opinion makers and key drivers of change as important

stakeholders to ensure that the state is willing to provide access to existing

schemes to the women and children infected and affected by HIV.

2. Strengthen advocacy capacity of 32 district level PLHIV networks in Rajasthan

to advocate for the rights of women and children who are infected and affected.

Rajasthan Network for People Living with HIV/AIDS (RNP+) with the support of

RSACS, UNIFEM & UNICEF has fagged-off Deepshika Pryananan from Rajasthan State

AIDS Control Society (RSACS) premises on 24th February, 2011. Deepshika Prayanan

episode was officially flagged-off by Mr. Damodar Thanvi, Ex-Commissioner

Disability and appreciated the entire RNP+ team and supporting agencies viz,

RSACS, UNICEF and UNIFEM.

The campaign travelled to Tonk, Bundi, Kota, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Udaipur,

Jodhpur, Nagaur, Bikaner, Ajmer, Sawai Madhopur, Dholpur, Bharatpur and

culminated at Jaipur on International Women's Day. The campaign handover

Deepshika to District Level Network and familiarized people about HIV/AIDS. The

HIV+ people also handed over policy document to District Collector in each

district being visited in this campaign.

A Professional street play team sponsored by RSACS staged an awareness

performance in each district and a booklet, IEC materials on HIV/AIDS were

distributed among people. Approximately, 10 lakhs people, including HIV positive

people were contacted during the 13 days campaign. The Deepshika Prayana

campaign culminated at Saket Hospital Jaipur on 8th March (international Women's

day).

Thanking you,

In solidarity,

Snehansu Bhaduri