A poster of Positive Haat. Picture by Suman Tamang

Darjeeling, Nov. 26: More than 450 people with HIV/AIDS have decided to come out in the open and seek donations of used items from people, sell them to raise funds for treatment and create awareness of the disease.

The donated items would be sold at a nominal rate in Positive Haat — a three-day event from November 30 — to raise money. The event is being organised by Shankar Foundation, an NGO, and the donations can be made on Friday and Saturday.

“Our objective is to bring about awareness and dispel myths regarding HIV/AIDS. People can come to Life and Leaf store on Nehru Road on Friday and Saturday and donate used items,” said Hari Chhetri, president of the NGO who is HIV positive.

The shop is defunct and the space will be used for Positive Haat. One can donate books, music CDs, household and gift items, furniture, artwork, jewellery, toys and games.

A support group called Friends of Shankar Foundation is helping the NGO organise the event.

Shankar Foundation started in 2007 and a year later, it had 87 members. “Today, we have 486 members from across the hills, including 183 females and 54 children,” said Shankar Mani Rai, the secretary. “On December 1, also World AIDS Day, we will release a documentary on stigma and discrimination against us. It will be about real stories told by real people.”

A concert with 10 local bands will also be organised at Chowrastha the same day.

“Recently, one of the members died and according to his religious faith, he should have been buried. But the religious head refused to do that saying the virus would spread. We had to burn the body but even then, the religious head was heard saying the virus could spread with the ashes and smoke,” Chhetri said.

Rai said: “In Darjeeling, a couple with AIDS died. One of their three children was HIV positive and the relatives refused to take care him. We had to find a home for him in Kalimpong.”

He said people objected when the foundation wanted to build a shelter for HIV positive people in Darjeeling. “We had to stop work despite the MP sanctioning Rs 15 lakh.”

Chhetri said: “We get Rs 1.39 lakh every quarter from the state AIDS control society but at times it gets delayed. Although we are given free medicines from hospitals, the cost of travelling from remote areas makes a dent (in the pockets).”