Kolkata school to reinstate HIV positive kid

In a shocking incident, an HIV positive student was driven out of his school in Kolkata's adjoining South 24-Parganas district. However, her mother claims that she got to know through media reports that the headmaster of the school has decided to reinstate him.

In June the headmaster of a nursery school in Bishnupur asked the parents of the boy not to send their ward to attend school.

According to the headmaster, some parents had threatened to withdraw their children from the school. They had also submitted a deputation to the school authorities stating that they would stop sending their children to school if the HIV-infected child was not asked to leave.

The child's mother said she is also HIV+ and works as a volunteer with an NGO in a government-run social project to create awareness about the disease in rural pockets.

"I came to know from media persons that the headmaster now has agreed to welcome my son back to the school. I will take him to school tomorrow (Thursday)," she said.

"Now I believe the headmaster is under severe pressure as the matter has been highlighted in the media. Thus he is welcoming the child back to the school. My son is also excited as he will be attending classes with his friends from tomorrow," she added.

West Bengal women and child development minister Sashi Panja also ordered the district Child Welfare Committee (CWC) to help the child to get reinstated in school.