AIDS victim's kin to get money
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Guwahati, March 17 2012: The Assam government has decided to give a one-time assistance of Rs.1 lakh to the next kin or relatives of those who die of AIDS.

Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma Saturday made the announcement and said Assam will be the first state to introduce such a scheme, which will become effective from April 1 .

"There are still many wrong notions about HIV and AIDS and it is kind of a taboo.

Even relatives of those who die are isolated in the society.

They face embarrassment for no fault of theirs," Sarma said.

He said the one-time assistance will be given so that the relatives get to earn their livelihood.

A total of 1,500 people have died of AIDS in Assam so far, he said.

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