Conscription law
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Parliament passed the Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Prevention and Control) Bill, 2017, seeking to prevent any injustice against HIV or AIDS infected persons on Tuesday with the Lok Sabha passing it. The Bill had got the Rajya Sabha's nod on 21 March.
Political party representatives cutting across party lines give their stamp of approval for the Bill that, among others things, seeks to make injustice against HIV patients a punishable offence with jail term ranging from 3 months to two years and fine or both.
In his reply to members’ submission on various aspects of the Bill and their suggestions, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister J P Nadda said the passage of the Bill marked a ‘historic’ day in the country’s fight against the killer disease that has assumed alarming proportions in India.
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Though the Bill does not provide for free treatment for persons affected with HIV, Nadda during his speech said it would be provided to patients. In his verbal commitment the minister said: “We do not have to write this in the Bill…We stand committed [to free treatment for HIV positive patients).”
Earlier, while introducing the Bill, Nadda called it ‘progressive’ and people-centric. He said the bill would ensure an ‘aggressive strategy’ with accountability at the Central and state levels with provisions for mandatory testing and counseling for HIV patients by the government.
The minister said the Bill will also provide for screening of yet to be born children to ensure that the disease is not transmitted to children from HIV infected mothers. It would also make sure that rights of HIV children and persons over property is legally safeguarded.
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