Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Reuters NewMedia - November 8, 2006
Bappa Majumdar
Officials in the impoverished state of Bihar say they want to train many of the state's estimated 100,000 vagrants to sing songs in trains and buses and beside busy roads, as well as enact street plays about the deadly virus.
"Beggars are great actors and very creative," Vijay Prakash, Bihar's welfare secretary, told Reuters. "They always had the skills, but lacked direction which we are giving them and the experiments have so been very successful."
India has the world's highest HIV/AIDS caseload with 5.7 million infected people, according to the United Nations AIDS agency. But activists say the true figure may be much higher as surveillance is limited in much of the country.
According to official figures, just 1,078 people from Bihar's population of over 83 million are infected with the virus -- although AIDS campaigners say infection rates are grossly under reported.
The new recruits will be paid a few hundred rupees for their work.
In India, beggars are regularly seen singing popular Bollywood or folk songs in crowded trains and buses to solicit money.
"Some can dance very well, and we hope our training programme will help them earn a living," Prakash said.
If the project is successful, officials plan to recruit beggars to promote awareness of diseases like polio and malaria.
061108
RE061120
Copyright © 2006 - Reuters, Ltd. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Contact Reuters.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Pacific Life Foundation and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2006. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2006. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .