Darjeeling, June 19: They have had been looked down upon and jeered at, until Kripa Foundation recruited them for its cause.
The foundation, which also runs a drug rehabilitation centre here, has started a crusade against AIDS and the stigma associated with the disease. A separate cell, consisting of resource persons who had once undergone treatment at the Foundation?s rehab centre, has been formed to track down needle users, who fall in the high risk group.
?Whatever statistics we have, shows that apart from sex workers, the next high risk group is the intravenous drug (ID) users, specially those who share needles,? said Sudip Dixit, the chief functionary of the cell.
Members of the Foundation recently held a workshop for the resource personnel and are now looking forward to making a pool of around 8 to 10 persons, who were once substance abusers.
The cell has already formed a core-group consisting of Cecila Edwards, Rajen Dewan, Sudip Dixit, Ravi Bhattacharya and Prescila Lama. The core committee along with its resource persons will soon start identifying the ID users and working with them.
The year-long programme, being funded by the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime, will not only aim at conducting awareness drives among potential risk groups, but also intervene and help them keep away from substance abuse.
?Drug users usually move around with a particular group. It is important to identify the members of this group first. Then we can hope to convince them. If they cannot be de-addicted, they can at least stay away from sharing needles,? said Dixit.
Figures available with the Foundation suggest that almost 23 percent of those who have undergone voluntary HIV tests in Darjeeling are ID users. ?There is a threat to society at large as the involvement of such users with commercial sex workers is very high,? added Dixit.
Members of the Foundation maintain that ?people are still sceptical? about their programme. ?Unless the society encourages our work, it is definitely going to be difficult,? said Dixit.
