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G Vinayak in Imphal
For a state that has nearly eight per cent of the country's HIV infected patients, Manipur's politicians are surprisingly quiet about the whole issue.
Except for the newly formed Democratic People's Party, a conglomeration of former students leaders, human rights activists and even former underground cadres, no mainstream political party has prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS patients as its top priority.
But that doesn't come as a surprise for social activists.
Deepak, secretary of the Manipur Network for Positives, said, "Politicians only pay lip service to the HIV/AIDS issue. They are more interested in sharing the spoils of power than look at such a serious health hazard."
And serious it is. According to the Manipur AIDS Control Society figures, the state has 12906 HIV positive patients. The number of people afflicted with AIDS is put at 1047 and the number of deaths due to AIDS is 198 between 1986 till date.
The figures are alarming since Manipur's death toll and number of AIDS patients is second only to Maharashtra. But the population in Manipur is minuscule compared to Maharashtra.
Politicians in Manipur are aware of the magnitude of the problem, but besides having a line or two about their intention to take steps in preventing HIV/AIDS, none of the manifestos list out in any detail what measures they would take after assuming power.
Only the DPP, more a platform for social activists, states that it is aware of the danger that HIV/AIDS poses for future of Manipur.
Khemchand, general secretary of the DPP, said, "In our eyes the scourge of HIV/AIDS is more dangerous than militancy and therefore we will give it utmost importance."
But Deepak said, "Unless those afflicted with HIV are in a position to dictate policy decision on the matter nothing will change. Only those of us who are affected by HIV understand how serious the problem is."
Over 76 per cent Manipur's HIV positive patients are regular injecting drug users.
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