KOCHI: For the past many years the Kerala State Aids Control Society (KSACS) has been efficiently tackling HIV. But putting a spoke in its wheel is a new factor-the increasing homosexuality among migrant labourers in the state.
Shockingly, owing to their indulgence in sex with commercial MSMs (men having sex with men), categorised as high-risk groups, HIV is literally banging on the door which has been almost closed by the KSACS.
The risk mounts when the migrant labourers also go for female sex workers. Much to the dismay of the officials, each HIV case reported from Thrissur, Pathanamthitta and Ernakulam is owing to the increasing homosexuality among them. Dennis Joseph, Joint Director, Target Intervention, KSACS, said that it is the occasional indulgences to suppress their libido which slowly slip into homosexuality.
“They cannot be blamed for that and the nature of their jobs restricts them from going home. Hence they are left with no alternative. But we need strict monitoring to prevent it from sowing further risks,” he said.
A migrant labourer based in Kochi opined that 80 per cent of the migrant workers indulge in homosexual activities. “Everywhere it happens and Kerala is no different. Indulging in homosexual activities is not deliberate. It just happens. But we always take necessary precautions,” he said. But the truth is that safe sex practice is always compromised. The construction sites in the cities have literally become a haven for sexual encounters as most of the migrant labourers are employed in construction sites.
Ratheesh V K, counsellor, Suraksha project, of the Rajagiri outreach which works to prevent HIV among migrant labourers, said that his subjects offer various reasons for increased interest in homosexuality.
“Living a morose life in a crammed living space and unsatisfied heterosexual relationships are some of the reasons. But slowly they move outside their circle and go for MSMs and female sex workers,” he said. But what makes the situation more grave is that they do not hesitate to shed safe sex practices.
MSMs who go with the migrant labourers admitted that, many a time, they have to forsake safe sex. “Sometimes the situation would not allow us to take the necessary precautions as most of the encounters happen at construction sites. Apart from it, many who approach us also go for female sex workers. We know that there is a high risk involved,” said Gokul, a commercial MSM based in Kothamangalam. They offer good money and most primarily they do not torture or harass us, said Baby K M, an MSM based in Thodupuzha.