District Collector Srikakulam, Mr. J Nivas has not only adopted a HIV-positive boy, but he is also in the process of collecting donations from various officials and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to help provide the afflicted children with nutrition kits and adequate education.
In an exclusive interview with the Indian Masterminds, Mr. Nivas enlightened us about how he went about adopting an HIV positive child, and how he is now coming in aid of such affected children in his district.
ADOPTING AN HIV POSITIVE BOY
Mr. Nivas said, “When I was undergoing my training, former district collector of East Godavari, Mr. Muddada Ravi Chandra started a concept of having lunch and interaction with HIV affected children on December 1- which is the World HIV Day. Apart from just interacting with the children, he also motivated the district employees to adopt one such child and take care of his or her nutritious needs.”
He added, “This is when some people came forward and it also gave me an inspiration to help such distressed children. Hence, six years back in Adilabad, Telangana when I attended a similar function on December 1, I adopted a boy suffering from HIV who was living with his grandmother. He was a single child in the family.”
Coming across that child getting raised by his grandmother motivated Mr. Nivas to an extent where he decided to help him both with his nutrition needs and education He said, “Every month I provide the kid with a nutritious kit which includes, eggs, rice, atta, Horlicks, jaggery, and oil costing around Rs.1,400 per month. The boy was in fourth class when I met him six years back. Now he has cleared class 10 and has joined the Industrial training institute.”
Subsequently, Mr. Nivas has also started an initiative to help over 200 HIV-infected children in the district.
A CORPUS FUND FOR THE AFFECTED CHILDREN
Speaking about the initiative, Mr. Nivas said, “Last year on December 1, we conducted a meeting with district employees, SHGs and other like-minded people and created a corpus fund of Rs 2.2 crores. From this fund, we will be taking care of all 211 children who have been infected with HIV in the district. The interest derived out of the corpus fund will also be invested in supporting these children. Every year, we add funds to the corpus by way of donations, so that it does not dry up. This way, we will be able to help many children for many years.’’
Many people have come forward in doing their bit. They include the Deputy District Medical and Health Officer, Dr. Leela Rani. After Mr. Nivas explained the need to help to such infected children, Dr. Rani also came forward and adopted a child suffering from the HIV.
While speaking to Indian Masterminds, Dr Rani said “As these children are suffering from this horrible disease, I also planned to adopt a child. Due to the Covid pandemic, I was unable to admit the child in a school but I make sure that I will admit the child in the school as soon as the situation normalises.”
DISTRIBUTED NUTRITIOUS KITS AND CERTIFICATES
This year, the district collector Mr. Nivas organized a program on December 1, where he interacted with the HIV patients and distributed nutrition kits to them. He also conducted an essay writing competition where he gave certificates to students who participated in the competition on International Aids Day.
