HIV+ persons show least interest in DSS scheme

PANJIM, OCT 14
Two years ago the State Government extended Dayanand Social Security Scheme (DSSS) to HIV positive but till date very few have availed of the benefit under the scheme.
According to the Social Welfare Department just six persons infected with HIV are currently availing the benefit of the scheme even as figures state that the population of HIV infected persons in the state is 13000 plus.
While there are many HIV positive who may be in need of monitory help of Rs 1000 paid monthly by the government yet the response for the scheme has been poor.
Officials say the patients are not coming forward to take benefit under the scheme for they fear risk of exposing their HIV positive status as they have to run from pillar to post for the hectic documentation process. The applicants need to obtain supporting document that need to be attached along with the application.
Dr Pradeep Padwal, Director of Goa State AIDS Control Society (GSACS) says they have taken care to ensure that HIV positive status of the applicant is not revealed.
However, Jaffar Inamdar of Positive Lives India (PLI), an NGO working for HIV infected people, says what the infected persons find troublesome is obtaining income certificate and residence certificate from local authorities.
“Most of the HIV infected persons, who are really in need of some monitory help are from outside Goa. But, they do not posses any documents, not even a ration card, though they are residing in Goa for many years now,” says Inamdar.
Jaishree, who works for Zindagi, an NGO that works for HIV/AIDS also echoed similar sentiments.
According to her the main problem of the HIV infected potential applicants is they do not have proper documents.
Also, as they from outside Goa, it is too difficult for them to obtain required documents.
“Even if a person is staying for last twenty twenty-five years, it is difficult for him to get a residence certificate from local authority,” she says further adding, it is an experience of HIV infected that the authorities ask far too many questions.
The application for availing DSSS benefit has to be supported with residence certificate and income certificate. Currently, GSACS has about twenty applications pending which it will be forwarded to Social Welfare department after scrutiny.