Union ministry of external affairs (MEA) has issued an e-mail to all its Embassies and Consulates, clarifying that there are no travel or residency restrictions for People Living with HIV (PLHIV) coming to India. The MEA has asked all offices to remove the requirement for HIV testing from all the visa forms available with Indian Embassies and Consulates. India now puts itself in the group of the United States and China which recently lifted their travel restrictions, prompting applause from PLHIV communities and Human Rights groups internationally.
This action was prompted by a Parliamentary Question on 15 April 2010 by Dr E M Sudarsana Natchiappan, MP (RS) & State Organizer of the Forum of Parliamentarians on HIV & AIDS (FPA). The FPA is a registered organization with diverse membership of Parliamentarians representing all major political parties. It was started in the year 2002 as a bipartisan forum for steering the political response to AIDS in partnership with UNAIDS.
On behalf of the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had earlier withdrawn the requirement for HIV testing of foreigners, including foreign students. However, some Indian Embassies and Consulates continue to display the requirement of HIV test certificate on their websites as well as on visa forms. The latest move from MEA will ensure that HIV related questions will not be asked on any visa application forms.
“We welcome the initiative from MEA that India has clarified its position to lift HIV related travel restrictions”, stated Oscar Fernandes, MP (RS) & president, FPA.
Dr Natchiappan stated, “we commend the leadership displayed by the Indian Government. FPA believes that these types of travel restrictions limit the rights of people living with HIV and fuel discrimination and stigma”.
Prof Charles Gilks, UNAIDS Country Coordinator said,” such regulations were issued by many countries in the 80s when little was known about HIV, and there was more of confusion and fear about the virus. “Globally there is no evidence that such restrictions prevent HIV transmission or protect public health. The MEA move upholds India’s commitment to Human Rights and Dignity of all people including those who are living with HIV.”