Free Bus Passes for HIV Infected People

Collectors of Madurai and Dindigul districts handed over free bus passes to HIV infected people who are receiving free anti-retroviral therapy (ART). Now these people can travel free of cost to the ART centers.Madurai Collector C.Kmaraj said, "As part of the Antyodaya Anna Yojana Scheme, over 169 families living with HIV are being provided 35 kgs of rice and a total of 77 young widows living with HIV have been provided with widow pension. Resource mobilization is also being done for 250 children living with HIV in Madurai and as on December 2010, a total of 3,800 people are receiving free ART."

While handing over the free passes in the first phase, Dindigul Collector M. Vallalar said, "A total of 1,711 persons living with HIV in the district would shortly get the passes."

Source-Medindia