BHADRAK: As the world observes World AIDS Day, these women seek alms for their sustenance. Shunned by the society and ignored by administration, the widows of HIV men lead a miserable life.
Saraswati Sahu, a resident of Ramnagar village near Bhadrak town, lost her husband to AIDS in 2008. Ever since, it has been an uphill task for her to sustain her two children. She does not find work as the social stigma attached to the wife of HIV patient refuses to go.
“The villagers drove us out after my husband’s death. I cannot even migrate to other places leaving my two minor kids,” said 42-year-old Saraswati.
Basanti, a native of Dhamnagar, has a similar tale. She was forced to beg after her in-laws and villagers refused to take responsibility of her after her husband died of AIDS. However, her children were allowed to study in the village school as blood test revealed they had not contracted the disease.
The paltry amount of `300 under Madhu Babu Pension scheme is the only assistance she gets. “I have been running from pillar to post for the last two years for a house under Mo Kudia Yojana or IAY, but to no avail,” Basanti rued.
According to District AIDS Prevention and Control Unit (DAPCU), over 200 AIDS widows are living in the district. Of them, 60 per cent have been diagnosed with HIV positive. Though financial support of `300 is being provided to them by the Government, it is not enough for them to sustain. Even their relatives have abandoned them.
“Every year, events are organised to create awareness against the disease and concern is shown about social stigma faced by AIDS patients. But none bothers about AIDS orphans and widows,” says Smita Snigdha Nayak, a social activist and programme coordinator of voluntary organisation Fellowship. Abandoned by in-laws, most of HIV widows are forced to lead a beggar’s life in the society, she said.
Director of Nikhila Utkal Adivasi Harijana Seva Sangha Ramesh Dixit said over hundred HIV widows are leading the life of beggars. Many are daily wage earners while others have migrated leaving their children in orphanages.
Bhadrak is the fourth most vulnerable district to AIDS in Odisha. Nearly 600 people are diagnosed with HIV positive of which 55 are children, 182 women and 24 pregnant women. Ironically, neither is there any fund nor project for their rehabilitation.