The Rajnagar block authorities courted a controversy ecently for disclosing the names of a few HIV-AIDs affected persons of Rajnagar block.
According to sources, the Rajnagar block administration affixed a list of 49 beneficiaries, who are going to avail free housing schemes under the Mo Kudia scheme in the office notice board. In the list, five HIV affected persons’ identity has been included among the beneficiaries.
“As per the guidelines, an HIV person’s identity cannot be disclosed publicly and if necessary, a fake name should be used to protect the person from social ostracisation and discrimination. Even, the apex court has also given an order in this connection,” said Biraja Pati, an activist of AIDs Eradication programme.
According to sources, as many as three AIDs affected persons of Ostia panchayat and one each from Rajpur and Brahmanisahi got a place in the beneficiary list of the Mo Kudia Yojana. Meanwhile, the affected persons have decided to file a case against the block authorities for the lapse, informed sources.
When contacted Rajnagar BDO Rajendra Naraya Pradhan confessed the mistake and said it was not intentional. We have struck off the HIV/AIDs affected persons’ names from the list of beneficiaries, he said.
It may be noted here that a couple of years back some of the HIV /AIDs affected persons had shied away to get the Madhubabu pension fearing their identity would be disclosed publicly and they would face social restriction from the villagers.