NGO claims HIV+ kids shifted to Thivim, moves Rights Panel

TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: City-based NGO Green Goa Foundation has filed a petition before the Goa Human Rights Commission to make it a party in the suo moto petition in respect of the HIV+ children who were denied admissions in the Rivona school, claiming that the 13 HIV+ children have been shifted to Asro, Thivim.
In a petition filed by Adv Shalini Menezes on behalf of GGF Chairman Raison Almeida, the NGO said that it has received a letter from the Director of the Children’s Home stating that the 13 HIV+ children had to be shifted to Thivim after they were declined admission and permission to attend classes with non-HIV students at Fatima High School.
The NGO has prayed that the Director of Nitya Seva Niketan be made a necessary party to the proceedings, besides GSACS being a nodal organisation in the field of AIDS and HIV.
The petitioner further prayed that the manager of Fatima High School be directed to give a written undertaking to Nitya Seva Niketan that they shall admit any HIV+ Child. A plea was also made before the Rights panel that the manager of Fatima High School be restrained from demanding the HIV status of any child for whom admission is sought.
Almeida told the media that GGF came to know of the absence of the 13 HIV+ children from the Children’s Home when it had organised an entertainment programme for the children. “At the time of distribution of prizes, there were 13 prizes in surplus. Moreover, when I visited the Home to take measurement of the children with the intention of getting new outfits ready for them for Christmas, some of the children were found absent”, Almeida added.