Teen diagnosed with HIV sent off from hostel

Bhuvaneshwar: In an inhumane act in Odisha, a 13-year old diagnosed HIV + was thrown out from the hostel, after parents of other pupils forced the staff of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalay in Kendrapara district of Odisha. The girl has been allegedly denied the right to stay in the hostel of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalay residential school since past one year, though the school authorities allowed her to continue studies.

Child rights campaigner Biraja Prasad Pati said “Its very unfortunate that authorities of a school run by the Ministry of Human Resources Development treated the child unfairly. The confidentiality of her HIV-positive status child has been breached. This led to violation of her right to privacy. Stigmatisation of this nature has undermined her dignity.”