Nearly Rs 6900 crore is being proposed to be spent for the third phase of the National AIDS Control Programme during the 11th five year plan period with a view to halt and reverse the growth of HIV epidemic.

The programme has been submitted to the Planning Commission which is yet to approve the action-plan as the plan allocations are still under process. The states would be provided with grants-in-aid in accordance with the action plan to be approved, sources said.

The Centre would give Rs 2861 crore by way of direct budget support and through integration of National Rural Health Mission pooled funds while the World Bank and DFID would give Rs 1933 crore. As part of different rounds upto VI of the Global Fund, sponsored by different agencies, a total of Rs 1787 crore would be spent during the next five years. UNDP would contribute Rs 71 crore while USAID would chip in Rs 225 crore, taking the total money to be spent during the next Plan to Rs 6877 crore.

The goal of the third phase of the National AIDS Control Programme is to halt and reverse the growth of the HIV epidemic.

The model envisages that if 75 per cent of the targets laid down in the project implementation plans are achieved, the number of persons infected with HIV can be brought down to well below 4 million by 2011, with the epidemic gradually tapering down. The National AIDS Control Programme was started in 1991.

Meanwhile, a total of Rs 815 crore has been allotted for the NACO during the current year under the budget support for the state AIDS control societies. Tamil Nadu got Rs 78.49 crore to lead the tally among the beneficiaries. Andhra Pradesh was given Rs 76.75 crore while Maharashtra was allotted Rs 69.15 crore. West Bengal with 45.30 crore and Karnataka with Rs 44.07 crore also have sizable chunk from the Central pool to contain the HIV.