Prime Minister Vajpayee’s speech at a meeting with business leaders on Government - Business partnership against HIV/AIDS

December 01, 2000
New Delhi

I thank you for participating in this first interaction I have had with business leaders on HIV/AIDS.

    We have just seen a presentation about the serious challenge of HIV/AIDS that our country is facing today.

    I know that there is variance in statistics about the incidence of the disease in India. While we should strive to have a fairly accurate information about the size of the problem, there is no room for two views about its severity, either at present or in the future.

    Without any hesitation, let everybody realise that HIV/AIDS could become, if unchecked, the most frightening killer epidemic in India in this century.

    This realisation alone can wake up every section of our society to its responsibility in fighting this challenge. It alone can remove the complacency and half-heartedness with which our society is looking at this looming menace.

    No section of society, however, can fight this challenge on its own. All of us have to work together.

    The responsibility of business and industry in joining this collective struggle is self-evident. Once the geometric progression of the disease reaches a critical level, it will begin to take an ever-increasing toll on the productive sections of our population. The consequences of this on the economy of individual business units, as also on the national economy, can be devastating.

    It is, therefore, in the nation’s long-term interest for business to play a proactive role in dealing with HIV/AIDS now in order to ward off future problems.

    I may also add that your contribution to the national campaign against HIV/AIDS is intrinsic to your social responsibility, especially your responsibility towards local communities where your businesses are located.

    The experience of countries that have been successful in containing this scourge tells us that we can make a difference if Government, business and social institutions work together.

    I, therefore, sincerely call upon all of you – not big business alone, but every member of the business community, including medium and small business units – to join this battle.

    The battle has to be fought on four fronts:

    First, we should maximise public knowledge that, since there is no cure for this disease so far, prevention itself and prevention alone is the cure. Every Indian should also be made to know that even prevention is impossible through any vaccine, any drug, any injection or any operation. Awareness and responsible behaviour is the only reliable way of prevention.

    Second, we have to fully activate all our institutional and administrative measures to prevent the further spread of HIV/AIDS. If we can ensure this, it is quite clearly, half the battle won.

    Third, we have to take good care of the people who are already afflicted by this deadly virus. We should ensure that they suffer no discrimination and that their human dignity is not wounded in any way either at work place or at home. Sometimes when I read reports about suicides by HIV positive persons -- often because of the way their families and friends treated them -- I wonder how we can let such things happen in our country.

    Specifically, I urge you to remove the divide between work place and home for HIV positive persons. For them, even the work place should become homely. At the same time, owners and fellow-employees should regularly visit them and their families at home to give succour and solidarity.

    Fourthly, business houses should actively support focused research for prevention and cure for HIV/AIDS. There is already a global effort in this direction. Our medical research institutions, adequately supported by business groups, should fully participate in this global mission.

    Friends, This morning’s presentation has given you an idea of what Government is doing to prevent the spread of HIV-AIDS and for the care of afflicted persons. We are fully involving the State Governments and NGOs in our national campaign.

    I urge the corporate sector, and other sections of the Indian business community, to fully participate in Government’s efforts. In addition, you can undertake many initiatives on your own.

    This partnership should cut across traditional industry associations and business groups. Our endeavour should be to ensure how even bus and truck operators, garages and small roadside dhabas can effectively participate in this campaign.

    There is yet another area where your participation is both necessary and can be very effective. Studies all over the world, including in our country, have shown that migrant workers are especially vulnerable to this disease.

    Our society is urbanising very fast. The number of migrant workers is growing rapidly. Unfortunately, we have not paid enough attention to their working and living conditions. What compounds their condition is their unorganised nature.

    Most migrant workers are in some way or the other linked to business activities. I, therefore, urge the Indian business community to reach out to them.

    Take the message of HIV/AIDS to them.

    Contribute your utmost to improving hygiene, sanitation and the general condition of their work, habitation and healthcare.

    Show that you care for them as human beings, and not only as paid workers who are needed for your business operations.

Friends,

    You have to act with a sense of responsibility towards the nation and towards your own businesses. You have to act philanthropically. And you have to adopt a leadership role.

    If I were to suggest an agenda for the proposed Partnership Against HIV/AIDS, its features would be:

• Networking among Government agencies, businesses, voluntary organisations and social institutions for advocacy and partnership;
• Making use of every method and outlet of business advertising and communication to create awareness;
• Funding comprehensive health services for employees and their families;
• Ensuring easy access to condoms among employees and members of the local community;
• Eliminating HIV screening as part of pre-employment physical examination;
• Ensuring non-discrimination in workplaces and introducing effective workplace intervention;
• Joining the national campaign against drug abuse

    It is equally important for business and industry to support activities for income generation for families of employees who are either down with or have died of AIDS.

    I look forward to your suggestions so that we can set up a broad-based partnership, perhaps within a month.

    Let me assure you that Government will extend full support to your effort. The Ministries of Industry, Labour, Health and Family Welfare and other agencies of Government will actively participate in carrying the proposed programme forward.

    Together, let us strengthen our national campaign against HIV/AIDS. Together, let us pledge to win this battle.