Ranchi: The Jharkhand government will seek financial help from the mining companies and corporate establishments to address the rising cases of HIV positive cases in the industrial pockets.

Jharkhand State Aids Control Society (JSACS), the nodal agency of AIDS monitoring and intervention activities in the state, will approach mining majors like the Central Coalfields Limited (CCL), steel major Bokaro Steel Limited (BSL) and other PSUs besides corporate houses to provide condoms at subsidized rates and replenish the condom vending machines for truckers, miners and unorganized labour sector.

“Truckers are usually the first ones to contract the disease which is then spread around the mining settlements,” statistical officer of JSACS Sudeep Sanyal said. JSACS authorities said the decision to seek external comes after the re-filling of condom vending machines in high risk areas was stopped after the suppliers ended their agreement with National Aids Control Organization (NACO) in 2014. The halt in supplies forced JSACS to remove the vending machines from 50 spots in urban pockets and high priority areas in mining districts, The Times of India reported.

“The subsidized condom distribution programme cannot kick off in the state unless other measures are taken,” a JSACS officer said.

JSACS has sought help under the funds allocated for the corporate social responsibility activities and will approach the companies to distribute condoms among these vulnerable groups at subsidized rates and help organize regular screening to detect new positive cases.
This comes at a time when as many as 16,905 people are living with HIV disease in the state and new infections are on the rise.

“A large number of HIV positive cases are hidden from our knowledge because they have not got themselves screened. The population mostly comprises of migrant workers and truckers and can infect thousands more,” said Shami Akhtar, state programme officer of JSACS.

The data collected by JSACS through various screening camps across 24 districts show that at least 1,500 people contracted infections in 2015. The numbers are higher in industrial and mining districts of East Singbhum, Dhanbad, Giridih, Seraikela-Kharsawan and Hazaribag.
Besides condoms, the JSACS will also approach the industrial houses for contributing to the awareness campaigns in the high priority areas.