Winter is a tough time in our Darjeeling Hills. People who can afford move to warmer climes. Darjeeling wears a deserted look and moves into a sense of hibernation. Lately, political activism and Shanker Foundation seems to get a fresh lease of life every winter.
I was at the Shanker Foundation office yesterday to discuss activity plans for this year. Ended up chatting as i had not gone down to the office for a long time. Loads of laughter typical of Darjeeling Hills on the problems faced by the members including not being able to access Second Line ART.
With tea and Ghuramia puff biscuits the talk went more serious and laughter decreased. In the past few weeks three of the members have died. Families turned up at the office, all of them tested positive. A 13 year old daughter and parents, another family with an 8 year old child and a 60 year old man and his wife aged 52 years tested positive. They have very little understanding of the virus, the lifestyle changes needed and lack adequate resources to access treatment.
The deaths and new members appearing in winter is becoming a regular feature. Most of the members who come to the office in winter, live in difficult circumstances and the only time they are free to look beyond survival is winter. i just hope and pray that in these few days of winter they are able to gain enough information and knowledge to make the necessary lifestyle changes to maintain their dignity of life. Once the hustle bustle of Darjeeling comes their lives will be engulfed in their rat race of daily bread.
At this juncture i realise the importance of the core team of Shanker Foundation who provide living examples of positive life style for these new members. Not only do they provide information and linkages necessary but also inspire them. They are key in fighting for the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS. Without them the majority slip away in forced silence. A frustrating silence which kills more than the virus does. A silence that all of us are responsible for. A silence that perpetuates dehumanisation of our society.
Such discussions in closed environment always moves to difficulties of the group. Moments of truth like these, brings out the struggles of the team which is not seen by most people. It also brings out their passion and selflessness driving them in their respective life journeys irrespective of the adversities. Some of them have not received their honorarium since September 2010, yet continuing their jobs as someone has to do it whether there is money or not.
The discussion then went practical as to what we should do. It was generally agreed that we should continue working on reduction of stigma and discrimination, care and support and advocating for rights of PLHIV. There will also be focussed activity on selling the 2011 Positive Calendar this month. Some thoughts on fund raising targeting the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial (3rd Sunday of May) was placed. It was decided that we would meet in a week's time.
I walked back to office thinking about what i heard and what we discussed and realised that I have not shared any updates with the Friends of Shanker for a long time so here goes an update and wishing All A HAPPY NEW YEAR. An update calling on all the Friends to TAKE THE LEAD
Yours sincerely
roshan
