Rs 1 lakh fine; people living HIV/AIDS

A central act that prohibits discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS, and punishes the propagation of hatred or physical violence against them with up to two years in prison and Rs 1 lakh fine, came into force on Monday.

In India, 0.26% of the people between the ages of 15 and 49 years are living with HIV, according to a report by National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO). With 2.1 million patients, India currently has the world’s third-largest HIV-positive population.

“There might be a surge in the number of court cases registered initially, but in the long run, measures under the act like appointing an ombudsman and a nodal officer at workplace will reduce the number of long protracted court battles,” said Praveen Kumar, additional programme director of Delhi State AIDS Control Society.