New Delhi: More than 21 lakh people are living with HIV in India, though there has been a “steady decline” in new infections since 2007, Rajya Sabha was informed Tuesday.

“As per the HIV estimation 2015 report, an estimated 21.17 lakh people are living with HIV. “The adult HIV prevalence at the national level has continued its steady decline from an estimated peak of 0.38 per cent in 2001-03 through 0.34 per cent in 2007 and 0.26 per cent in 2015,” Minister of State for Health Shripad Yesso Naik said in a written reply.

However, India is estimated to have around 86,000 new HIV infections in 2015, a decline of 66 per cent from 2000. “Thus it is under control,” Naik said. There is no separate figure for rural and urban areas. However, HIV Sentinel Surveillance 2012-13 measuring HIV prevalence among pregnant women which is considered as proxy for general population shows there is no significant difference between rural and urban area HIV prevalence, reported Deccan Chronicle.

Naik said the government’s communication strategy to create AIDS awareness among different groups including, sex-workers, has moved from creating general awareness to behaviour change. “It aims to motivate behavioural change among most at risk population, raise awareness and risk perception among general population particularly youth and women, generate demand for HIV/AIDS related health services like condoms, counselling and testing services… “…and creating an enabling environment that encourages HIV related prevention, care, and support activities and to reduce stigma and discrimination at individual, community and institutional levels,” he said.

Replying to another question, Naik said the percentage of population benefiting from the social protection schemes and programmes designed and offered to people living with HIV in India are free transport 17.70 per cent (3,71,607), Antodaya Anna Yojana 2.65 per cent (55,671) and Palanhar Yojana 18.53 per cent (25,566).

Similarly for Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) it is 23.88 per cent (32,953), widow pension 6.88 per cent (27,520), free treatment other than ARV 6.45 per cent (1,35,459), ART Pension 4.52 per cent (94,999) and BPL Status 4.02 per cent (84,515) amongst others, he said.