Cooperative Training 20 20 02 09 New

Report on

Two Days Workshop for Sensitization of Co-operative Leaders

on Prevention of Spread of HIV/AIDS

AtCooperative Management Institute, Jaipur

20th & 21st February 2009

Organised by

Cooperative Management Institute, Jaipur

and

ICA-AP

Facilitated by

SMU-RSACS & MRU-SAATHII Jaipur

Support to national Efforts for Mainstreaming of HIV 1

http://www.undp.org/

Agenda of training:

Day First: 20.02.2009Welcome of chief guests and participants

Shri R.K. Anand, Principal, Institute of Cooperative Management, Jaipur

Welcome speech Shri R.K. Anand, Principal, Institute of Cooperative Management, Jaipur

Lighting of Lamp Chief guestsObjectives of the Workshop Ms. Savitri Singh, Advisor

Gender Programme, ICA-AP, New Delhi

Role of RSACS in Prevention and Control of HIV

Dr. J.C. Gupta

Inauguration Shri C.M. Meena, IAS, Pricipal Chief Secretary, Cooperatives, Government of Rajasthan

Introduction and expectations with workshop

Ms. Savitri Singh, Advisor Gender Programme, ICA-AP, New Delhi

Basics of HIV and the National AIDS Control Programme

Mr. Nahid Mohd., Networking, Advocacy and Linkages Coordinator, MRU, SAATHII

Assessement of high risk behavior and impact of Stigma and Discrimination on the women, children, family, workplace, nation and economy of the country

Mr. Akshay Shrivastava, Sector Coordinator- SMU, RSACS

Mainstreaming of HIV Mr. Ashok Rai Singhani, Project Officer-SMU, RSACS

Day: Second- 21.02.2009



Strategy for HIV/AIDS prevention and control

Mr. Krishna Gautam, Programme Manager, MRU, SAATHII

Group work Mrs. Madhu Sharma, Sector Coordinator, SMU, RSACS

Chief guests:

Shri C.M. Meena, IAS, Pricipal Chief Secretary, Cooperatives, Government of

Rajasthan


Dr. J.C. Gupta, Deputy Director, Blood Safety, RSACS

Ms. Firoza Bano, Chairman, Raj Laxmi Cooperative Bank, Jaipur

Shri R.K. Anand, Principal, Institute of Cooperative Management, Jaipur

Chair Person

Shri C.M. Meena, IAS, Pricipal Chief Secretary, Cooperatives, Government of Rajasthan

Resource Persons:


Mr.Ashok Raisinghani, Project Officer, State Mainstreaming Unit, RSACS

Mr. Krishna Gautam, Programme Manager, Mainstreaming Resource Unit,

SAATHII, Jaipur

Ms. Madhu Sharma, Sector Coordinator, State Mainstreaming Unit, RSACS Mr. Akshaya Srivastava, Sector Coordinator, State Mainstreaming Unit, RSACS

Mr. Nahid Mohammed, Training Coordinator, Mainstreaming Resource Unit,

SAATHII, Jaipur



Participants

There were 58 participants in the training from different districts of Rajasthan and most

of them were the leaders of Cooperative Societies.

Background:

The International Co-operative Alliance in Asia represents 53 co-operative ogranisations

in 22 countries covering 520 million individual co-operative members. There are more

than 5, 40,000 co-operatives in India with more than 23 million Co-operative members.

Sensitization of Co-operative leaders for creating political will is very important for

initiating community based programmes. Therefore, a state level training workshop with

the leadership of Co-operatives was organized at Cooperative Management Institute,

Jaipur on 20th & 21st February 2009.

Aim of the workshop

The aim of the Workshop was to sensitize Co-operative leadership and managers of the

Co-operatives about the sensitivity of the HIV/ AIDS and pronounced commitment from

them to bring out required facilities for spread of preventive education to reduce risk of

HIV/ AIDS among the Co-operators.

Objective:

1. Orientation of the leders and managers about the issue.

2. Strategy for conducting HIV/ AIDS awareness programmes.

3. Framework for national action plan to implement the above referred strategy.



Duration: Two days

Welcome

Mr. R.K. Anand welcome all the chief guests, representative from Mainstreaming Units

and the participants came from different districts of Rajasthan. He expressed his gratitude

towards Shri C. M. Meena, IAS, Principal Secretary Cooperatives, Dr. J. C. Gupta,

Deputy Director, RSACS, Ms. Savitri Singh, Consultant ICA-AP and Mrs. Firoza Bano,

Chairman, Raj Laxmi Cooperative Bank. Then

he asked all the chief guests to light the lamp

as a symbol of illumination. Mr. Anand then,

welcomed the chief guests by offering them a

memento, Shawl and bouquet.

Speeches by the Chief guests

Speech by Ms. Savitri Singh



Ms. Savitri Singh opened her speech with the words “Jai Sahkar”. She said that we have a

big base of cooperatives and if we are able to sensitize all the members of our

cooperatives about HIV/ AIDS then we can easily create awareness on larger level. She

also said that we will provide list of cooperatives to the State AIDS Control Societies so

that they can contact and coordinate with them for trainings down the line in

cooperatives. International Cooperative Alliance was formed in 1895 at Geneva with the

aim of encouraging the cooperatives, she said. There are more than 80 crore members of

cooperatives in 110 countries and 58 Cooperative organisations in 25 countries. Out of

which 8 member organizations are in India like, MCUI, IFCO, RIDCO, MCBC, etc.

Ms. Savitri Singh said that HIV has serious implications on development of the country

and it is now time to react by all. The Cooperatives are the business-based organizations

so they can contribute in preventing HIV by different ways like by doing IEC activities

etc. Cooperatives can also help in the social marketing of condoms by open condom

outlets and by installing condom vending machines on places under their supervision.

She emphasized on the gravity of the epidemic by quoting example of Africa. She said

that in 2002, due to the rise in HIV positive cases the cooperative credit moment was

very strong. Members were taking loan for medicines, treatment and funeral. Due to

deaths because of HIV/AIDS the number of cooperative members were declining. So

they contacted the chiefs of Cooperatives. In 2004 first conference was launched at India.

Speech by Dr. J.C. Gupta

Dr. J.C. Gupta said that RSACS is doing different interventions for the prevention and

control of HIV in the state. He said that to check HIV is our joint responsibility and with

this view our State Mainstreaming Unit is trying to Mainstream the HIV issue with

different stakeholders.

Speech by Shri. C.M. Meena,

Mr. C.M. Meena, IAS, Pricipal Chief Secretary, Cooperatives, Government of Rajasthan,

said that visualizing the role and importance of cooperatives in spreading the awareness



on HIV, it is an important workshop. In Rajasthan there are about 25000 cooperative

societies, which shows that we have a large structure of organizations to work at ground

level. He said that after so much of awareness work, the HIV is spreading because people

don’t have complete information. He expressed hope that the workshop will help to

enhance this knowledge of the participants gathered here. And through these participants

this information will reach many others. He also said that it is important that our leaders

get sensitized on HIV issues because people follow their leaders. If the cooperative

leaders themselves come forward, then we will surely able to increase our reach to every

nook of the society. Shri Meena expressed his happiness over the good gathering of

participants in the workshop and also on the presence of female members. He said that

the active participation of women is important for the significant role of cooperatives in

campaign against AIDS. There should be a federation of women at village level because

government also wants to strengthen the Self Help Groups, he said.

Speech by Mrs. Firoza Bano

Mrs. Firoza Bano welcomed all the participants. She said that in India the role of woman

is very great because she is the career of culture and traditions from one generation to

another. But in recent years her role is changed a lot because our culture and traditions

are also undergoing changes, which can be one of the reasons for the spread of HIV.

Women are more affected by HIV. She said that it is really encouraging to see number of

women participants in this workshop. She hoped that all the participants would take a

lead in initiating Mainstreaming of HIV with Cooperatives.

Technical sessions:

Session one: Basic of HIV/AIDS & National and State scenario and ongoing programmes and cure of disease

The first technical session was delivered by Mr. Nahid Mohd. The objectives of the

session were as under:



To enhance the Knowledge level of the participants on HIV/AIDS.

To discuss the prevention modes

To clarify attitudes towards HIV

To clarify myths and Misconceptions

Mr. Nahid explained participants about the basics of HIV and AIDS. He told the

participants about the difference between HIV & AIDS and causes of HIV transmission.

The information to participants was also given about different fluids through which the

virus can be transmitted. He also told the participants about the different high-risk groups

and how the virus is entering from high-risk groups to general population. Mr. Nahid told

the participants about different safety measures one should take to avoid HIV infection.

He emphasized over the correct knowledge of HIV and tries to eliminate different myths

and misconceptions. He said that it is very important to have correct knowledge of HIV

because different myths about HIV leads to stigma and discrimination against the HIV

infected and affected persons, reduced care and support of PLHIV and also discourage

testing and counseling of HIV.

He told the participants about the National AIDS Control Programme and about various

services being provided to HIV positives at the state level. Information about different

HIV tests and antiretroviral therapy was also given to the participants in a simple manner.

He said that HIV is not curable but manageable, if one takes antiretroviral therapy

regularly.

Session two: HIV risk behavior and assessment it’s impact on the societyStigma impact on women & children, House hold, Workplace, National economy

Mr. Akshay, Sector Coordinator, SMU- RSACS, in his session told the participants about

the different types of high-risk groups and the behavior associated with high-risk

activities in context of HIV/ AIDS and its impact over the individual, family, society,

work place and the development process of the country. He explained the participants



that why it is important to be aware with the personal health, habits and sexual behaviour

to avoid any type of risk.

Then after he explained the associated stigma and discrimination with HIV and its

adverse impact over the individual, family and the society. Mr. Akshay mentioned

different types of stigma and discrimination with PLHIV and also discussed such cases if,

ever known or seen by the participants in their surrounding. He said that due to high

stigma and discrimination the PLHIV fear to share their status in society. He told the

participants about different types

of reasons due to which PLHIV

have to face discrimination by

their family members, friends,

community and work place. He

said that it is very important to

have the correct knowledge of

HIV/ AIDS to eliminate stigma

and discrimination in the society because it will help to increase counseling, testing and

providing care and support to PLHIV. He explained the participants that how reduction in

stigma and discrimination against PLHIV will help in increasing counseling and testing

of HIV.

In the last he suggested some ways to the participants to contribute in Mainstreaming of

HIV. He said that the members of cooperatives could disseminate correct information

about HIV, protect the human rights of PLHIV, by helping them and by having empathy

with them.

Session three: Concept of Mainstreaming

This session was taken by Mr. Ashok Raisinghani, Project Officer, SMU, to develop a

conceptual understanding of participants about Mainstreaming of HIV. He said that the

HIV is not confined to urban areas only rather making much larger presence in the rural



India because more than 50 per cent HIV infections are from rural areas. He told the

participants about different vulnerable factors in Rajasthan, which support the increase of

HIV. He said that number of HIV positives as per NACO estimates are around 2.5

millions but if we do not realize this problem, the number can be increased more, which

will ultimately harm the development of the country. He put the example of South Africa,

where the HIV prevalence has increased from 0.2 per cent to 20 per cent in last just 20

years. He warned the participants that if still we do not become vigilant, then after some

years we would have the situation like South Africa.

Mr Ashok said that if only government work against HIV then it will take a long time to

control the epidemic but if all the departments start working then we are able to achieve

our goal quickly and this is the real Mainstreaming of HIV. With the intention to

Mainstreaming HIV with different stakeholders this workshop is organized, he further

added.

To further clarify the concept of Mainstreaming he showed the pictures of four different

commercial Hindi movies namely,

Tare Zameen Per, Lage Raho Munna

Bhai, Chak de India and Phir Milenge.

He said that all these four movies had

big stars of Bollywood but neither

Sharukh Khan was any authority of

Indian Hockey Federation, nor Sanjay

Dutt was doing any social work, nor

Amir Khan was doing any advocacy.

They all are professionals and had

made hit commercial movies but have also conveyed messages of social cause on

different issues. So they have performed social responsibility along with making profits.

This is how we can also bring the issue of HIV/ AIDS in to mainstream.



He said that if a NGO working on education start talking about HIV in his program then

it will not increase the cost of the project but it will help in sending the messages of HIV

prevention and control to a large audience. If a cement factory doing his advertisement

and it add a line about HIV then it will not increase the cost of advertisement. This is

called Mainstreaming.

Mr. Ashok said that till today it was assumed that HIV prevention and control is the

responsibility of Health department, but now it is important for all of us to own the

responsibility. He also said that Mainstreaming of HIV is a cost effective approach.

Cooperatives has a very large base of workers, which can be easily mobilize to create

more awareness among people living in rural areas, where the reach of health services

and information is still a problem. Mr. Ashok told the cooperatives members present in

the workshop to integrate HIV in their programmes and policies like-by identifying the

programmes which have largest reach to the population, by adding orientation sessions

on HIV in all training programmes and by installing condom vending machines at

suitable locations.

Session Three: Strategy for HIV/AIDS prevention and control

The session was taken by Mr. Krishna Gautam, Programme Manager, Mainstreaming

Resource Unit. He told the participants about their roles and responsibilities toward a

PLHIV. He said that as a common man we can advise them to have good nutrition,

immediate medical advice and follow safe sex behaviour. We can help in checking

further spread of HIV if we have correct knowledge about HIV because then we will not

practice stigma and discrimination against PLHIV. We can guide people about the correct

sources of information and services regarding HIV/ AIDS. We can also follow certain

precautions to protect ourselves from getting infected. We can ascertain that various

needs of PLHIV like medical, social, psychological and nutritional are being fulfilled.



We can also help them in getting registered at ART centre so that they can be avail of

Antri retroviral therapy. He told the participants that we can support PLHIV by

addressing their economic rehabilitation

and by taking care of education of their

children.

Mr. K. Gautam told the participants

about HIV management to minimize the

psychological and physiological impact

of HIV on PLHIV. He said that like

diabetes and blood pressure, HIV could

also be managed if not fully treated. Lastly, the various services available for PLHIV

were described to the participants in detail.

Session Four: Group exercise

This was the last session of the training programme. The session was lead by Ms. Madhu

Sharma, Sector Coordinator, SMU, RSACS. She divided all the participants in five

groups and each group was asked to write

suggestions for Mainstreaming of HIV on

flip charts. All the five groups came out

with some good suggestions regarding

Mainstreaming of HIV.

Some of the suggestions are summarized

as under:

To display messages on HIV in processions like Prabhat Pheri, pad yatra

(processions), etc.

To display messages on HIV in offices.

To add lesson on HIV/ AIDS in school curriculum.



To create more awareness on HIV through trainings and discussion in office.

To print messages on HIV in reports, register etc. used in office.

To distribute IEC material in local fairs, exhibitions etc.

To take session of school children on HIV.

Vote of Thanks

Mr. R.K. Anand, Principal, Institute of Cooperative Management gave vote of thanks.



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