Goregaon society fights discrimination against preschoolers and teenagers living with HIV

Curious, jaunty and most importantly happy...these are the first few distinct qualities that catch the eye on meeting the children residing at Goregaon's Desire Society. Essence of childhood, one may assert...rather traits one would, beyond question, associate with children. But here's why these kids probably aren't the so-called regular children; they are living with HIV.

Before some of you stop reading this article claiming that we're discriminating, here's restating that we're not. We'll admit that we did, in the initial minutes of meeting these children, feel that 'but obvious-human-emotion' called sympathy. But, like the literatis would put it, it was nothing less than the Midas touch of these adolescents, which altered the feeling of ruth to one that is a synthesis of empathy and pride. Empathy for being part of the countless who contract this terrible disease, for no fault of theirs, and pride on seeing their undying zeal for life.

Branching out from a vehicle-swamped SV Road, this quaint NGO, which operates out of two rooms, is located at a cosy corner. In conversation with Bharat Tamang, Resource Mobilisation Officer, Desire Society-Mumbai, we couldn't help noticing that his office walls reflected a convivial outlook, one that exceedingly showcased happy pictures of, and multi-hued posters drawn by, the children.
Founded by G. Ravi Babu, who is now the president of this organisation, Desire Society was established in Hyderabad in 2005. Tamang informs, "Babu's childhood friend died of HIV when they were in college. Post that, he was keen on working with HIV patients who lived in Hyderabad. He realised that children who had HIV, and whose parents died of the same, were unwanted. Even orphanages didn't want to keep them." Starting with giving a home to just five kids, Desire Society now provides shelter to more than 200 children in Hyderabad, Vishakapatnam, Bangalore and Mumbai. The NGO also provides nutritional support to around 1,000 children from the community, across these four cities.

We overheard the kids conversing in a witty repartee as they walked into their happy home. On seeing us, what followed were loud, consecutive echoes of 'Hi didi. Aap kaise ho?" The youngest present there was four-year-old Komal, whose naughty gestures brought a smile on everyone's face. Six-year-old Varsha seemed grumpy from time to time. We spoke to her, and she eased out telling us she loved colouring. On asking her what she wanted to become on growing up, she told us, "Mujhe doctor banna hai. Mummy ne bola tha." Tamang informed us that Varsha lost her mother months ago. But the togetherness of these children and the love she's received from the NGO has helped her cope with the loss.
Lakshmi, Priya, Natasha, Pooja, Manju, Lata, Bhavna, Arti and all the other children present there maintained, "We love living here. It is a lot of fun and we're like a family." While they have a domestic help, we noticed the kids took care of their own needs and did their own chores. What's endearing was to watch them help each other...whoever says one can't choose their family, need to visit this place to believe how wrong they are.

The behaviour of these children remained constant throughout the hours, no matter which guest they met (and there were many that day). Out of the six hours that we spent at Desire Society, what we did notice keenly were the elements of change in our society. Mothers who did not cringe to celebrate their toddler's birthday with these children...a young college boy who paid regular visits to chit-chat with them... teachers who volunteered to help these kids with their dance and school tuitions... schools that gave admission to these young ones without discriminating...the society does have changemakers. Most importantly, when an orphanage refused to keep these children, this small NGO decided to shelter them. While that's not a sea change, it surely is happening one wave at a time.