HIV and AIDS Bill

Experts during a programme organised by National Coalition of People Living with HIV in India (NCPI+) in Patna on Friday said the HIV and AIDS Bill, 2014, did not safeguard the interests of HIV-infected people. In October, the Union cabinet approved amendments to the bill and it is now pending with the Rajya Sabha. Amrita Soni, the state programme manager of the NCPI+, said the bill did not have specifications regarding the distribution of anti-retroviral therapy drug among HIV positive and AIDS patients.

"HIV+ and AIDS patients are dependent on the drug provided by anti-retroviral therapy centres. The bill rather says that the state and Union government has to ensure treatment and diagnostic facilities to the HIV positive and AIDS patients as far as possible. Getting treatment, diagnostic facilities and drug from the government is the right of the HIV+ people. So, the government authorities can evade responsibility to treat patients by using this clause," said Amrita.

Rights fest

Students of Delhi Public School celebrated Human Rights Festival on Friday to mark World Human Rights Week.

The highlight of the festival was the Anne Frank exhibition, which reflects her insight into her trials and tribulations during World War II. Annelies Marie Frank was a German-born diarist and writer and one of the most discussed Jewish victims of the Holocaust.

Role of youths

Magadh Mahila College principal Jayshree Mishra inaugurated a seven-day programme for volunteers of National Services Scheme on Friday. Around 200 students attended the programme. On the first day, a seminar was organised on "role of youths in uplift of society". Mishra said youths have the ability to face any challenge and to come up with solutions for any problem. She asked NSS volunteers to keep the college clean.