1

5
th
March 28
th
March 2012
2

Third Phase of the Red
Ribbon Express in
Maharashtra
- 5
th
March 28
th
March 2012 -





PROCESS DOCUMENTATION AND REPORT OF THE CAMPAIGN

DOCUMENTATION/WRITNG/EDITING: PANKAJ BEDI, CFAR




3



Index


Third Phase of RRE in Maharashtra..04

Background of the RRE.05

Murtajapur, Akola06

Nagpur19

Amgaon, Gondia31

Jalgaon..40

Bhiwandi, Thane..52

Ahmednagar60

Latur72

Solapur..84

Khadki, Pune.100

Sangli-Miraj, Sangli.111

RRE II & RRE III130

Media Coverage.131

4

Third Phase of the Red Ribbon Express in Maharashtra


The Red Ribbon Express visited Maharashtra in the third phase between 5
th
March to
28
th
March 2012. The train covered 10 districts and halted at 11 stations of Akola,
Gondia, Jalgaon, Mumbai, Thane, Ahmednagar, Latur, Solapur, Pune and Sangli.

The event saw the participation of all stakeholders right from the State to the district
level. Agencies like Avert Society and UNICEF, CFAR, NGOs like Pathfinder
International, Hindustan Latex Family Planning and Promotion Trust, Family Heath
International along with their community, Government departments such as the Central
Railways, the District Administration, Panchayat Raj Institutions, schools, colleges and
other educational institutions all joined hands with MSACS in meeting the objectives
of the RRE.

This time around, apart from the testing facility, 10 mobile ICTC vans visited some of
the remotest villages providing awareness and information through mediums like street
plays and puppet shows and motivating them to get themselves tested.

Throughout the month long event, around 367601 people were reached out to with
information, awareness and counseling and testing services through on board and
village outreach efforts. Some 5610 were trained through 100 on board training
sessions, 9151 were counseled and 8498 tested for HIV. Besides, some 1511 were
referred for STD and some 1312 availed the General Health Check up facility. In terms of
outreach activities, the folk troupes gave 298 performances reaching out to 105071.

The media also gave wide publicity to the event. A total of 253 news reports were
obtained across all the districts. Besides this, another 35 stories were covered by the
electronic channels including two half hour slots on All India Radio. Leading Marathi
news channels like Sahyadri, Zee TV, Star, ETV, Mee Marathi and IBN Lokmat reported
the event. Zee TV and ETV also ran a daily scroll alerting about the schedule of the train
in the respective district.

5

Background of the RRE

The journey that began on 1st December 2007 with the launch of the first phase of Red
Ribbon Express (RRE), as the specially designed exhibition train on HIV and AIDS was
named, has now metamorphosed into a mass campaign against HIV and AIDS. In its
third phase, RRE will halt at 162 stations in 22 states. In addition, outreach programmes
and activities will be held in about 10,000 villages. The Project is being implemented by
National AIDS Control Organisation in partnership with Rajiv Gandhi Foundation,
National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Ministry of Railways and UNICEF.

Campaign Objectives
Disseminating information regarding primary prevention services
Developing an understanding about HIV to reduce stigma and discrimination
against People Living with HIV (PLHIV)
Informing people about H1N1, TB, Malaria and Reproductive and Child Health
(RCH) issues
Promoting preventive health habits and lifestyles.
Focus of the campaign is on youth and women in semi-urban and rural areas.
Details of RRE Coaches:
The RRE consists of eight coaches as follows:

1. Coach I: This has displays on bio-medical aspects of HIV/AIDS including
interactive touch screens and 3-D models.
2. Coach II: This has exhibits and educational material with focus on HIV/AIDS
from the perspective of care, support and treatment services.
3. Coach III: This has exhibits focusing on HIV/AIDS as a social and developmental
issue to promote creation of an enabling environment free from stigma and
discrimination (inter-sectoral/ mainstreaming approach).
4. Coach IV: This displays information on general health, hygiene and
communicable diseases such as swine flu, TB and malaria and RCH services.
5. Coach V, Auditorium-cum-Conference: This has arrangement for orientation/
sensitization of groups such as women self help groups, members of Panchayati
Raj Institutions (Institutions of Local Self Governance), teachers, government
officials, police personnel, NGOs, youth leaders etc. A group of 60 people can
participate in one session. Three sessions are organised every day.
6. Coach VI, Counseling-cum-Medical Services: This has provision for counselling,
HIV testing, STI treatment and general health check-ups. These are
supplemented by additional health services on the platform.
7. Coach VII, Sleeper Coach: In this coach crew member, monitoring staff, visiting
NACO and SACS officials travel.
8. Coach VIII: It has office, dining-cum-pantry facilities.
6












THE RESPONSE TO RRE-III IN
MAHARASHTRA
7


Murtazapur, Akola

The countrys largest social mobilization and HIV awareness
campaign, the Red Ribbon Express, made its first halt at the
Murtazapur station in Akola district. The train on a year - long
mission to spread message on HIV-AIDS across India entered
Maharashtra on the 5
th
of March and toured 11 districts and 12
railway stations. It was quite obvious that Akola being the first
to host the RRE, the district required meticulous planning and
the involvement of various departments - district and
panchayat levels as well as NGOs, and other stakeholders
working with local communities was essential. A month long
planning exercise, close co-ordination of various departments
and co-operation from the railways ensured that the campaign
met the raised expectation of getting a higher turnout of
visitors. The total crowd that visited the RRE during its two
day stay in Mutrajapur was close to 10, 000.

Red Ribbon Express came to Murtazapur for the second time
in three years and was stationed on the 5
th
and 6
th
of March,
2012.


Pre Planning:

The district administration was informed about a month in advance of the arrival of the RRE.
Two Nodal officers Anil Mundhada and Dr Narang were assigned to oversee the necessary
preparations required to be done in the district. All the basic planning was done by NACO in
Delhi and we were given clear guidelines on how the campaign should be organized, informed
Anil Mundhada. What was then required to be done was to ensure co-ordination between
different departments and generate maximum support and enthusiasm for the event, he added.

The preparations in Akola were supervised by the District Collector Parimal Singh who headed
the RRE District Organizing Committee. Departments of Education, Health, Railways,
concerned NGOs and bodies like the Transport Corporation of India and Regional Transport
Office were all involved in the designing and planning activities.

Murtazapur is a municipal
council in the Akola district of
Vidarbha region of
Maharashtra. The taluka has a
population close to 1 lakh. The
place is known all over the
country for Sant Gadge
Maharaj Ashram. Sant (Saint)
Gadge Maharaj was a crusader
for cleanliness. The town is an
important railway junction.
The Maharashtra Industrial
Development Corporation
(MIDC) houses oil mills and
cotton pressing factories, and
apart from these industries,
agrarian economy is the
mainstay. Market traders have
connectivity for their businesses
in places like Nagpur, Mumbai
and Hyderabad, but are still a
far cry from what would define
growth.
The place has in Akola district is
said to have the highest HIV
positive population. There is a
significant migrant and
floating population thanks to
education, MIDC and heavy
truck traffic passing through
the district. Akot taluka in
Akola district also has a high
number of Female Sex Workers,
majority of which are moving
and the rest home-based. This is
a high risk population that is
relatively untouched due to the
absence of any targeted
intervention projects over the
last three years. These factors
objectively point to high rate of
HIV incidence, in which youth
are principally susceptible.
8

Almost 20 days prior to the arrival of the train, a meeting was held of the Collector, tehsildar,
Sub Divisional Officer, Civil Surgeon, District Health Officer, ZP CEO/Education Officer and
NGOs working in the district to discuss the preparations necessary to mobilize people, ensure
media support for the campaign and finalize logistical modalities. The Education Officer
Sonavane personally contacted schools and colleges to inform them about RRE. Accordingly,
National Cadet Corps (NCC) and National Students Service (NSS) were asked to depute
volunteers. The District Collector also wrote to all the departments asking them to coordinate
and initiate the process of printing of posters, banners and pamphlets.

Pre-publicity of the RRE:

The preparatory work was initiated a good one month in advance before the RREs visit to
Murtazapur. In order to systematize the work, Darshan Janaikar, District Program Officer
(DPO) of DAPCU, Akola laid particular emphasis on the guidelines set out by SACS. He initiated
two meetings, the first of which was to plan out the activities and the second to review the
implementation. Since, youth happened to be the focal point, suggestions were exchanged with
the educational officer of Akola district to have a comprehensive participation of youth during
RREs visit. District Health Department was being kept up-to-date of progress, and District
Health Officer was informed about participation by ASHA and anganwadi workers. Darshan
Janaikar also saw to it that 204 villages were communicated through their respective sarpanches
and gramsevaks a week before RREs arrival.

Folk artistes were trained with help coming in from Transport Corporation of India (TCI) to
effectuate the same. These artistes performed in 104 villages before the train arrived in order to
sensitize the people of the importance of a visit to RRE. Two troupes of folk artistes, Rang Ved
Bahu Uddeshiya Sanstha from Amravati, and Lok Jagran from Buldhana traveled far and wide
in the district and in the process reached out to an estimated population of 14, 000 people in
creating awareness. For a wider reach within the district, NGOs working in HIV-related fields
were sought help from. These NGOs were also invested responsibility of reaching out to high-
risk groups like the FSWs.

Information, Education and Communication (IEC) material had to be redesigned with its focus
on youth this time around. IEC van covered up to 15 colleges and 15 villages in the vicinity of
Murtazapur towards its awareness generating capacity from the 28
th
February till the 6
th
of
March. IEC van reached out to an estimated population of 25, 000.

A total of four rallies were organized by NCC cadets and Scouts and Guides on the 4
th
of March
towards pre-publicity and awareness campaigns. This initiation by the students helped create
and raise awareness among the general population towards RRE and its significance. On the
following day, students from various colleges in Murtazapur walked the streets in HIV-
awareness rally. This mobilized the people towards shunning their inhibitions and pledging to
pay a visit to the RRE.









9

Inauguration, 5
th
March 2012, Murtijapur Railway Station

The RRE in Murtijapur was accorded a warm welcome. At the
inaugural event Guardian Minister of Akola Rajendra Darda was
present along with local dignitaries such as District Collector
Parimal Singh, MLA Sanjeev Dhotre, Zilla Parishad President
Pushpa Ingle, MLC Ranjit Patil, Civil Surgeon Dr Suryakant
Nichale and Superintendent of Police S. P. Ambica among others.


Mr Darda in his inaugural speech stated that the RRE was a
significant campaign as it highlights the issue of HIV which all of
us should be concerned about. He said that considering the
vulnerabilities of Murtijapur taluka, such an event which
educates people and provides on-spot services assumes great
relevance. He exhorted everyone to visit the train and access all
information being provided. He expressed his belief that this time
around the turn out will be more than what it was last time.

MLA Sanjeev Dhotre suggested that while everyone should visit
RRE and get informed about HIV, it is the duty of parents to send
their adolescent children also to visit the exhibition. We should
all understand how vulnerable are youths to health issues like
HIV and unless we take a lead and prod them to visit the train,
they wont be able to access this information, he said.

District Collector gave details of the RRE campaign and said that the people in Murtijapur are
lucky to have got this opportunity for the second time around. He exhorted everyone to come in
large numbers and break the districts last years national record of highest turnout.

Around 600 school and college students were eagerly waiting to explore the train which was
opened for the public immediately after the inaugural event got over.
NGO Stalls on the platform:

Six stalls were put up at the
railway station. These stalls or
information kiosks were put up by
local organizations, which
attracted people to continue with
their learning about HIV and
related information. IEC material
was distributed at these kiosks.

NAP+ (Network of Akola)-run
kiosk distributed booklets and
leaflets pertaining to information
on HIV and STI.

Civil Hospital, Murtazapur had
come up with posters and
pamphlets detailing information
on HIV/AIDS and STI.

District Womens Hospital had
posters on HIV and STI, gender
equality. Posters with information
on the significance of blood
donation were a special attraction.
The hospital also came out with
innovative ideas like using models
to detail information on four main
causes of HIV/AIDS.

Gunavant Shikshan Sanstha
displayed booklets with
information on HIV/AIDS.

Bhagyodaya Shikshan Sanstha had
two stalls on the platforms. The
stalls had posters, pamphlets and
information in an interactive
manner. Games were shown, in
which participants could get to
learn about HIV in a more easy to
understand manner. These games
talked about HIV transmission,
misconception and the importance
of a link worker in the chain.
10

Response to the Campaign in Murtazapur:

The response in Murtazapur was brilliant with people coming in from different sections of the
society to witness the RRE and also taking part in continuing their learning about HIV/AIDS. It
definitely was an enhancement to what the town experienced in 2010.

Youths take the lead:
This was widely witnessed across the broad spectrum of the society in Murtazapur. Students
from schools volunteered to direct the crowd at the station to show inside the train. Scouts and
Guides were eager to have a look at the train themselves. Students, who had a general idea as to
what to expect inside the compartments also narrated their efforts to gather information on the
related topic. A particular case in point is Venkatesh English Medium School, students of which
not only participated in an HIV/AIDS rally, but volunteered to campaign for this noble cause.

Sidhhi Bhelonde and Tejal Pimpale from the school were much eager to have a look of the train
from inside. Siddhi said, We have heard about HIV. We gathered some information through
advertisements and some through our curriculum. But we believe this train has got some
additional information and hence we have come to see it.

Tejal shared, Last time I could not get chance to see the train from inside but this year I am
happy that not only would I get the opportunity to see the train but I am contributing in the
campaign as a volunteer. I will be here for two days.

Class 8 students from Sant Gadge Maharaj Vidyalaya also visited the RRE on the first day.
Despite showing signs of timidity to begin with, it all changed when they witnessed the exhibits
on train, and subsequently were eager to visit the stalls and gather more information on
HIV/AIDS. Nilesh Kamble, a student from the school, was particularly moved to see the
colourful exhibits. This is very attractive and looks good, was his first reaction. But later as he
11

went through the display panels and kiosks, even he picked up a few learnings for himself.
There was a section on youth. After going through all that I realized how important it is to
select good friends and be in good company, he quipped.

Most of the students who
visited the train on day 1, came
with hardly any information,
and went back quite contented.
Girl students from ITI
Government College expressed
gratitude to RRE for equipping
them with the right knowledge
on HIV and STI, said one. He
added, we are all adolescents
and very soon some of us are
likely to get married. This is the
time when we need such
information. This is not at all
accessible to us otherwise. We
are grateful and lucky to have
visited the train.

When asked what is it that they
have learnt and will carry back home? Rupali who seemed to be the youngest in the group said,
Especially the information on STI and how presence of an STI increases your risk of infection. I
never knew about this linkage.

The other Krishna Sharma shared, we learnt that an HIV positive person can also lead a normal
healthy life! This was an eye opener for me. What needs to be done is to maintain a healthy
lifestyle and stay away from addiction. Nobody ever told me this!

These students were accompanied by their lecturer Suchita Unekar, who was all praise for the
campaign. She commended the messages and information on train, and was highly appreciative
of appropriate behavior that students and youth in general are asked to exhibit in their lives.
The information on board is guiding the students well about adopting a responsible behavior.
The entire information is communicated really very nicely and properly, she opined.

For another student, Sayali Joshi, from the Government Polytechnic College, Murtazapur, the
experience of visiting the RRE was enriching. She said, I was under the impression that such
detailed knowledge could be had only in hospitals and clinics, and was surprised to see openness
on train. I would surely share this information with my family members and friends.

Kavita Sonawane, a student of Government Polytechnic College, Murtazapur said, I feel that
RRE is for people like me and as a responsible citizen I would see to it that this information is
objectively shared with my acquaintances.

What really attracted Mangesh Bhole, another student was a sense of privacy that he could sense
on board the RRE. He opined, The whole experience of visiting the RRE has been instrumental
in shunning any inhibitions that were harbored by me and students like me in asking queries of
a personal kind. I am quite moved to see the probable consequences of drug addiction through
exhibits and multimedia presentations. On the whole, it has been a most enriching experience.
12


It was heartening to see that some future teachers from Dr. D. G. Rathod D. T. Ed. College,
Murtazapur were exploring the train seriously and answered in the affirmative when asked if
they would be sharing this information with their students in future. One of them said, We
liked information on vaccination, hygiene, caring for mother and child and nutrition. We would
surely share this information with our students, but by starting off on a less controversial
subject, before gradually talking on it.

Sheetal Charthal and Poonam, students and would be teachers from Anil Ramdas Kamble
Adhyapak Vidyalaya, Murtazapur echoed the importance of information on HIV/AIDS and
RRE, and promised to share it with their students. There is a need for awareness in small cities
like ours, and the information is really a food for thought.


The presence of students in large numbers was heartening, and their willingness to learn about
HIV/AIDS was readily seen. Moreover, there was sense of feeling that RRE was for people like
them, and it provided them with the perfect setting of understanding the issue at hand, which
otherwise would have to be gathered from secondary sources, thus risking the legitimacy of
knowledge and information gathered.








13

Touching the lives of many others

It was not just the students fraternity, but people from other sections of the society as well that
came and explored the train in large numbers only to go back contented and enriched by all that
they witnessed and learned in the process.

For Shahanaz Parveen, Shabana Khan and Shahalanj, teachers at Ghulam Nabi Azad Girls High
School, Murtijapur, RRE is a fantastic idea where people can get to know what they want to
about HIV in a space that is private to them. They want their students to get to learn more on
this, and were quite appreciative about phone receivers where information is communicated
straight to them.

74-year old Sulochana Thakare from Shirso works as a farm laborer. She was quite curious to
pay a visit to RRE when she heard about the train coming to Murtazapur. She said, When no
one in my family showed readiness to accompany her to the station, I set out on my own. Even
though I did not know much about HIV before coming to see the train, I am now really excited
by the idea of RRE and the task it has undertaken to make people aware about HIV/AIDS. This
has been a brilliant learning experience that I would cherish a long time. Moreover my task is
now to persuade my sons, daughters and daughter-in-law to take time out and visit the RRE.

Sagar Karmole tills his small land in Mandura, a small village in Murtzapur. He is a frequent
visitor to the taluka town for his farm-related work. He said, My visit to the RRE was more
accidental rather than pre-planned. I was told about the presence of the train during a business
trip. I always thought HIV as a young mans disease. But, this misconception has finally
dissolved when I realized that I too could be infected by the virus as HIV knows no age. His
experience was an eye-opener, and he pledged to get his family on day-2 as this information was
too hard to ignore.

Sandip Moole, Sarpanch, Rona, Murtijapur said, I learned lots of things here. I was aware
about HIV but not the way now I am. I explored each and every thing in train and found that I
have gone through the treasure of information. Its like entering the famous Alibabas cave. Only
difference is this cave itself has travelled all along to meet you and make you rich in terms of
knowledge. Now I can conduct a large campaign on awareness of HIV in my village.
14

Mr. Chale, Sarpanch, Ghungshi, Murtijapur said, I have seen RRE first time in my life. I am
sure my friends and I will get benefited from this information. Now I can deliver this
information very well to my friends, my family and to people who for some reason couldnt come
here. I will deliver this information in every possible way to every needed person. In this way I
will try to make my country HIV-free.

Ajay Joshi who works with Akola Police said, Information in RRE is excellent. Being in a
uniform service, I was under the impression that we dont need this information, but, after
seeing this train and accessing the information, I have now realized that how vulnerable we are
to HIV. Also I got the message that prevention is always better.

Community Participation:

Absence of any targeted intervention projects for female sex workers thinned out the possibility
of these women coming on their own accord to pay a visit to the RRE. To bridge this gap,
Darshan Janaikar arranged a site visit for focus group discussions. He contacted link workers of
Akola-based NGO Bhagyoday Arogya Shikshan Sanstha, who have regular discussions with
female sex workers, even though, it not part of their mandate.

A temporary arrangement of tents in Mochipura, Tehsil Bazaar near Murtazapur Railway
Station is where their profession is based. There were 21 FSWs, including a gharwali (housewife)
present with their regular customers. Their working time is 10 am to 5 pm. Sometimes if clients
want to stay overnight, they can in the tents. Women came here from Amaravati, Akola, Pusad,
Washim, Aurangabad and Takli. Sixteen women are from out of Murtazapur, whereas 5 are
locals. Some of them are married, some are widows and some are deserted. One of them was
physically challenged. Four to five women happened to be quite mature and open in their talks.
Smart looking Baby Sathe appeared as their assumed leader. She admitted to having regular
customers and even mentioned of college and school goers as forming a part of their clientele.
She shared an experience of a 14-year old boy who at first was chased away, but later became
their customer, since holding on to moral principles of not letting such young kids explore their
sexuality would only mean they hunting for other pastures to satisfy their needs.
15

Baby Sathe said that these women were practicing safe sex like using condoms, even when there
were none to guide them. Using condoms is quite challenging since the procedures are not too
well known and the clients have their reservations on this issue as well. The other challenge
these women face is getting medical accessibility. Although, they have to rely on a nearby
government hospital, they are not given proper treatment and care, and even medicines are not
available free of cost. Buying costly medicines at private pharmacies is something that not many
could afford. Many of these female sex workers including her suffer from STDs, but with no
medical assistance forthcoming, their being aware of risk of HIV hardly adds up to concern. All
of these 21 women have heard of HIV, but save Baby Sathe, none of them knew of RRE and its
arrival in Murtazapur. Baby Sathe knew of RREs last visit to Murtazapur, and was quite curious
to explore the train, but couldnt. Link workers of Bhagyoday Arogya Shikshan Sanstha
promised to arrange a visit for these FSWs on the second day. Baby Sathe expressed her
readiness to come, even if no one else turned up.

Baby Sathe came the following morning to pay a visit to the RRE, and said that her colleagues
would be coming in late. She was very enthusiastic and curious and paid a lot of time through
each compartment trying to understand and gather information. Despite limitations in reading
and writing, she requested volunteers on train to explain her in order to get maximum
information possible. She even shared a light moment, when she expressed her initial fears
about the virus as being a two-horned monster. Volunteers applauded her when she talked
about the four means of HIV transmission. She took assistance in filling up the feedback form
and was quite proud to sign her name across the entry. Thereafter, she paid a visit to the
compartment meant for counseling and testing, and got herself tested for HIV. She said, I
would come back with my friends later, and proudly show them the train. I would also urge my
friends to undergo medical testing facilities on train.

Strengthening the information base on HIV: Coach No. 5

Coach No. 5 was dedicated to training sessions as a team of 5 drawn from the civil hospital,
Positive Network and NGOs were seen handling a minimum of three to four sessions daily. A
typical session would
include information on
HIV, what precautions one
should take and where
could one access services. It
would however change as
per the audiences too. For
instance, when a group of
AASHA workers were being
trained, the emphasis was
more on the PPTCT
programme. When it came
to the youths, it was more
about adopting a
responsible behavior.

A total of 165 persons were trained on day one which included 60 policemen, 60 Asha workers
and 55 youths. Another 416 were trained on day two which included 236 Youths, 60 Teachers,
60 Gram Sevak and 60 Talathis.
16

Nilesh Munje, a gram sevak from Kanzara village located at a distance of 10 kms from
Murtijapur had come to see the RRE and attended the training session on day two. He was
thrilled to participate in the session and observed, What appealed to me more was the
methodology used by the trainers. I was apprehensive at first thinking that I would get to listen
to a medical prescription by some doctors. But the entire session was very interactive, easy
going and ensured that everyone was listening and paying attention. Nilesh had taken a bunch
of IEC literature and posters and had planned to put it up in the gram sabha. Kanzara is not a
developed area. It lacks many basic amenities, including clean drinking water. Many young men
travel to the town areas for work and some even stay there for days together. Listening to all
this, I get a feeling that the risk factor is high. I will not only display this material in gram sabha,
but also try to create spaces for dialogue on HIV in the village, he proudly confessed.

Folk artistes help the cause:


Two folk groups were assigned for pre and post publicity of RRE and for awareness on
HIV/AIDS in peripheral villages and on platform. They performed their duties most
enchantingly drawing huge crowds from all sections of the society.

Group 1 Rangvedh Bahuuddeshiya Sanstha, Amravati

This group consists of five persons. President Manoj Ujjainkar is doing his PhD. in dramatics
and is associated to Ravindra Natya Mandir, Mumbai. Manoj Pateria is from Amaravati. He has
twice won Maharashtra state award for best actor. Sanyoni Mishra is from Nagpur. She has
acted in films, theatre and albums. Nitin Madhav is working in All India Radio, Mumbai. Vikas
Vaidya is from Ashti. He is bahurupi by profession. It is their ancestral profession. The groups
specialty was an 18-minutes play, Ek Hota Raja (There was a King). Through the play they
gave information on HIV, against S & D and about RRE. They performed four shows daily on
platform. Their target was 104 plays in a month i.e. 15 days before and after RREs visit.



17

Group 2 Lokakavi Vaman Karde Pratishthan

This group consists of seven
persons. Their leader is D.R.
Ingale. He is from Buldhana. He is
Shahir (poet) by nature. So using
this media, he and his group
delivers messages and information
on HIV, STI, Condoms and link
workers project. Their target was
104 awareness programs in the
nearby villages.

On the platform too, these two
groups were performing four
shows daily in an attempt to lure
the commuters and travelers to the
RRE.

Mohan Sharma, 42 years with his wife Rekha was keenly watching one of the shows. When
asked about his feedback he said, The artistes have given so much of valuable information on
how you can stay away from HIV and that too in such an easy style. I am sure I would have never
read any literature about it. Thankfully I saw this. I realize that even if you are happily married
and believe in your spouse, still it is your duty to abide to safe sex practices. Condom usage
should not be overlooked... So saying Mohan and Rekha darted off to see the train exhibits.
They were later seen waiting in the queue outside the testing compartment.

Engaging with Stigma and Discrimination:

The message of ending discrimination with PLHIV and stigma of HIV was reinforced as School
students actively participated in rallies to mark the occasion of RREs visit to Murtazapur. They
carried placards urging people to shun practices of stigma and discrimination against people
living with HIV, and consider them as normal human beings like any other. Nako Kalank, Nako
Bhedbhaav, HIV la jaana bhedbhaav taala were some of the prominent messages that got
highlighted.

Teachers from Anil Ramdas Kamble Adhyapak Vidyalaya, Murtazapur not only liked
information on-board but they took some lessons from their visit quite seriously. I happened to
speak to a HIV positive person from the Network here. I was emotionally moved to know that
the extent of discrimination with the community is so high! I swear that I will do my best to
work on this issue, said Sadachari Bhimrao Jagtap, a teacher. He later added that he plans to
arrange a series of lectures in his college on HIV and will include testimonies form the PLHIV
Community. We train and groom future teachers. If at this stage we educate them on what not
to do, they will preach that and practice too, he shared.

Seeta Vasu, a final year student in Arts from Gajanan Maharaj Vidyalaya, Borgaon Manju said,
The visit has been intensely thought provoking, and practices of stigma and discrimination are
disdainful, and I vow to fight this menace to the best of my ability.



18

Testing:

Two years separate the first and present visit of RRE to Murtazapur. According to Darshan
Janaikar, DPO, DAPCU, Akola, a lot of positives have emerged in the intervening period. ICTC
number has gone up to 30, 000 annually at present from 17-18, 000 a couple of years back.
What is heartening is that youth seem to take voluntary interest in these activities, since they
form an 80 percent of the total number of people opting for ICTC. Darshan said, I sincerely
express my gratitude to RRE for having such a potent impact on different sections of the society
and especially the youth. This has really been an eye-opener.

In Murtazapur the total testing figures were 924 from which 880 were males and 44 Females.

19


Nagpur

Nagpur is the winter capital of Maharashtra, and the third largest city in Maharashtra
and 13
th
largest urban conglomeration in the country with a population of 2.5 million.
The city is often referred to as orange city, since it forms a major part of the orange trade
in central India. Nagpur is also known for its cleanliness and greenery.
With a high level of migration taking
place in the district, HIV has been a
cause of concern in recent times. The
district falls in the A category where the
prevalence is usually recorded as >1.
Hence, local co-ordinators of the RRE
Campaign in Nagpur were enthusiastic
about maximizing the outreach on the
two days of its stay. The city is growing
on a very fast pace. Real estate and
other industries holding promises for
better employment opportunities are
drawing migrants from neighbouring
districts and other States to Nagpur.
With this Campaign, we hope to reach
out to the likes of daily wage labourers with a package of information and services. I
believe that most of the testing may happen on these two days with the migrant
population, Ganesh Periyar, the District Programme Officer of Nagpur DAPCU gave an
expression of his belief just before the RRE arrived on Platform No. 7 in the morning of
March 7
th
.

The visit coincided with an important festival of Holi in north and central parts of India
and the organizers were tensed about the turnout. However, pre publicity campaigns
and media reports of the event drew large crowds to the station. The total number of
visitors in Nagpur was 15000.
20

Getting ready:

Preparations to host the RRE in Nagpur started way back in the month of February.
Once the District Level Organising Committee got formed, NGOs and Networks swung
into action. Ganesh Pariyar stated that with the District Collector at the helm of affairs,
the co-ordination between the various departments was smooth. Roles and
responsibilities were demarcated in February itself and we made it a point to facilitate
the preparatory processes by doing daily reviews and checks. This ensured that we were
always on track!, he beamed.
The pre-publicity
in Nagpur was
marked by an
intense media
campaign. All
major newspaper
outlets,
Doordarshan and
Radio gave
generous spaces to
the curtain raising
of the RRE. We
had an one hour
dedicated curtain
raiser on
Doordarshan
wherein we could
talk in detail about
this Campaign,
informed Ganesh.
This plus the
media reports of the pre event press conference and some special stories helped to
create a good buzz, he added. Media interest was seen running further high with the
actual arrival of the train in Nagpur as private FM Channel, Radio Mirchi conducted a
day long live broadcast of the on goings at the platform.

Involvement of the Community:-

MSM from Saarthi Trust:

It was noteworthy to see that community members from the Saarthi Trust were the first
ones to arrive at the platform on day 1 of the RRE event. Nikunj, programme officer
from the NGO was excitedly arranging IEC materials at the stall. He said, Last time
around the RRE was stationed at Wardha. Many of us missed the opportunity to visit it.
This time around we have ensured that word reaches out to each and every community
member in Nagpur. We have told them that its a lifetime opportunity for you to seek
appropriate knowledge and also get connected, he informed.
21

Nikunj and his group, headed
by Anand Chandrani, founder of
the Saarthi Trust, had been
supporting the DAPCU in the
pre publicity and mobilization.
Informed Anand, MSM
community in Nagpur is still a
closed one. We are trying our
best to reach out to many, but
have our own limitations. We
felt that something like the
RRE, if managed well, can do
what we have been trying for
quite some time now i.e to
penetrate deeper into the society, visit the most farfetched and remote areas and inform
everyone of HIV. Keeping this in mind our 300 volunteers vowed to dedicate ourselves
to the event, work with the DAPCU and make this a grand success.
The entire team and volunteers of Saarthi were there right from the planning stage to
carrying out responsibilities like inviting stakeholders, displaying IEC materials, holding
rallies, etc. This is our event and we will leave no stone unturned to see to it that
everyone benefits from this, remarked Sushi, a volunteer.

FSWs from CRTDP, Comprehensive Rural Tribal Development Program:

CRTDP, Comprehensive Rural Tribal Development Program has the link workers
scheme and targeted interventions with migrants as their main projects.

According to Madhuri Raut, chief resource person of the NGO for the district, CRTDP
works in 4 clusters of Nagpur district consisting of 100 villages in 13 blocks. All these
villages fall in High Risk category.
They have identified 1,446 HRGs
since 2009. She added, Some
villages which are very near to
national and state highways are
having the population below
poverty line. These villages have
migrant and truckers population
in large number. In the project,
considering the geography and
economy of these villages, our
NGO has covered auto and truck
drivers in some of these villages.
But something like the RRE is so
appealing that wit will surely
draw large numbers. I am sure
that this is going to strengthen
our work with them.
22

Under the project, the NGO has set up 100 information centers in each village. This is a
place where the NGO has kept IEC materials and are always available for a dialogue on
HIV and other health issues with the villagers. They also have an initiative called
Sanyukta meaning jointly under which the team members instantly hold a dialogue
on HIV with the villagers wherever there is an opportunity. The villagers make available
any space to the volunteters for holding such instant dialogues and conversations and
hence the concept of joint ownership. Madhuri informed that the team members and
volunteers from CRTDP had spread information about the arrival of the RRE through
their information centres and Sanyukta initiative. We want everyone from the 100
villages that we work in, to come and be part of his movement, beamed Maddhuri.

Ghanshyam Jugshani, Harshlata Chafekar and Vinod Zade from the NGO were busy
putting up their stalls on the platform. When asked about what did they expect RRE to
achieve, they all said, creating spaces for PLHIV. Elaborating further, Ghanshyam
stated that stigma and discrimination is running high. Thankfully, the villagers under
their project have been talking openly on HIV now. It is leading towards minimizing
stigma and discrimination. But if the train could motivate people to change their
viewpoint about the community, we will surely win the battle.

Ghanshyam & Vinod also stated that they are keen to get the FSWs from their work area
for the event. But since the event is coinciding with Holi, I doubt whether at all they
would be able to come. Business is good on such days, remarked Vinod.

Blood Donation Drive marks the Inauguration in Nagpur:

In a unique initiative, the team from
NRHM, had organized a blood
donation drive on day 1 of the RRE
Campaign in Nagpur. A total of 74 units
of blood was collected within hours of
holding it.

At the inaugural function, MLC S Q
Zama underlined the need for larger
peoples participation in addressing the
HIV epidemic. HIV is not the issue of
only the health department and of the
people who are affected and infected by it.
It is an issue which affects each one of us
equally. It is high time that all of us
understood our vulnerability to HIV and
took necessary steps to get well informed
and avail HIV and other associated health
services, he stated. Citing the RRE train as
a unifying force, he exhorted everyone to
visit the RRE and become part of the HIV
movement.
23



This is the third phase of the Campaign and another opportunity for the people of Nagpur to get
complete information about HIV and other health issues such as TB, sickle cell, etc. informed
District Collector, Sourav Rao who inaugurated the exhibition along with Divisional
Commissioner B V Gopalreddy and MLC S Q Zama. We should all collectively understand
HIV, get educated about it and try to address the stigma and discrimination faced by the
community affected and infected by HIV, suggested the Collector.

There is an urgent need for a real peoples engagement with HIV, remarked Civil Surgeon Dr
G M Rathod stating that the RRE Campaign will go a long way in bridging any information gap
around HIV that may exist. Our aim to reach out to all sections of the population from the urban
as well as the rural areas, he added.

Platform No. 7 goes live with NGO stalls

There were 14 stalls set up by NGOs that dotted the station premises during RREs visit.
These stalls were:

1) NNP+ (Nagpur Network for Positive people) popularly known Sanjeevani
Bahuuddeshiya Samaj Seva Sanstha. NNP+ is involved in extending support and care
for People Living with HIV (PLHIV). The stall had IEC material useful for PLHIVs on
display. It contained five types of pamphlets on daily routines for PLHIVs, information
on nutrition for PLHIVs. The material also contained valuable information regarding
24

legal rights. Useful information regarding opportunistic infections, HIV/STI
transmission modes, condom promotion, myths & misconceptions were notified in the
material. According to Manoj Raut, project coordinator, NNP+, the network has already
given vocational training through 12 SHGs started for women PLHIVs. He said, RREs
focus this year is on youth and with the testing facility on board, it would be possible for
us to identify positive people and try and get them registered with our network, so that
we could provide them with necessary services.

2) AB Origin Institute: located within the premises of government medical college and
hospital, ASHA is a 24x7 helpline for PLHIVs. The institute had posters and pamphlets
on display.

3) Sarthi Trust: based in Bardi, their work primarily deals with Men having Sex with Men
(MSMs). The stall had pamphlets and small booklets on HIV on display in addition to
condoms meant for distribution.

4) Bhartiya Aadim Jatik Sevak Sangh: the core of their work deals with supporting and
caring for female sex workers (FSWs). The project on targeted interventions deals with
migrants. Their stall had booklets on HIV/STI.

5) Indian Red Cross Society: they deal in core group prevention with brothel based FSWs.
They work in citys largest red light area called Ganga-Jamuna Basti. IEC material on
HIV/STI, safe sex practices and posters dealing with the larger theme of HIV were put
up.

6) Sant tukdoji Maharaj Educational Societys Kumbhalakar College works on PPTCT. The
stalls carried IEC material and posters on maternal health, nutrition, HIV/STI and
booklets on Janani Suraksha Yojana.

7) Swami Vivekananda Medical Mission: their core targeted intervention is with migrants.
The volunteers at the stall displayed posters, pamphlets and booklets on HIV/STI.

8) Prarambha: a new institution in existence for the last 6 months deals primarily on issues
of LGBTQ. The stall had displayed material on HIV/STI and condom promotion.

9) CRTDP, Comprehensive Rural Tribal
Development Program has the link
workers scheme and targeted
interventions with migrants as their
main projects. A comprehensive and
rich display of posters on HIV/STI,
demonstration techniques of
condoms, condoms boxes for free
distribution and a host of games to
clear misconceptions on HIV were
25

some of the main attraction of this stall.
10) Indian Institute of youth Welfare (IIYW) runs a clinic named Khushi clinic, which
happens to be a targeted intervention for truckers. In addition, they also work with
truckers and non-brothel-based FSWs. Their stall had a rich stock of IEC material like
posters on HIV/STI and safe sex practices. The stall also had provisions for condom
promotion and distribution.

Impact of the RRE: Responses from Nagpur

Being a festive occasion, crowd started visiting the train post noon. In the meanwhile, volunteers
who were assigned duties to take the crowd around the RRE and stalls were busy having a
detailed look at he RRE themselves.

Sharda Mate, ASHA worker from Ambada, Mendla PHC was chosen as volunteers along with
her friends. She said, We are working in the field since the last three years. We have got
training on HIV many a times. Based on this training, I was under the impression that I could
deliver information on HIV to people easily. After seeing the train, I think I was wrong. I was
just having basic information about HIV. Today I have got an excellent knowledge on HIV, STI,
about S&D and PPTCT. I can do my job well now.


Before the station could get crowded, men and women in uniform, who were assigned tasks on
security also took up the opportunity to arm themselves with knowledge on HIV. They were
exploring the train in small numbers and since most of them happened to be young, they were
very eager to explore the train. One senior officer said to a group in uniform, Go and see it
yourself. But to tell you, even though I had seen the train when it came here last time, this year
the train has more information and more TV displays than last year. Now rest is up to you to
explore.

26

Hemlata Nagpure works with the railway police, and she paid heed to the officers words and
proceeded to explore the train. In her words, The train is rich in information. I had heard about
HIV through advertisements, and therefore had basic information. But after visiting the train, I
am much enriched. Their use of displays is amazing. Even though, some technicalities are
involved, it was easy for me to get the message.

By noon, people started crowding the station and the atmosphere was beginning to turn livelier.
Activists and volunteers associated with NGO stalls were beginning to swing into action by
directing people to the train, and explaining their work and answering queries of the general
populace.

Young girls from Jawahar Vidyalaya and Ashok Vidyalaya, Umred were busy discussing what
they had witnessed on board. Though, some of them were shy in discussing issues, Sakshi
Nagpure did not have any such inhibitions. She said, I not only understood the manner in
which HIV is transmitted, but at the same time, I was in a position to dispel many
misconceptions about its transmission. Jawan Hoon, Nadan Nahin is a really useful message
that I have been able to learn today.

27

Students from Providence Girls High School
went about exploring the stalls after they had
visited the RRE. These students were quite
happy to have visited the train, and their
thirst for information grew. This is what
made them visit the stalls and go through the
IEC material to further clarify their doubts.

Not just the students, but even lectures
visiting the train were happy about the
experience. One lecturer from Matruseva
Sangh Institute of social work said, Such
initiatives should be encouraged. The
knowledge this train is spreading is fantastic.
Young people need this. Considering todays
environment it is very useful for youth.
Especially on the bogie dedicated to youth,
the messages are very chirpy in a way. I mean
if you understand the meaning behind these
messages correctly, then you will find them
chirpy. Like the messages on friendship. They
say select your friends carefully and avoid their bad habits not them. See, how meaningful this
all is.

Mr. Mele from Kumbhalakar College said, The information disseminated through RRE is done
in a very simple and easy manner. Tools used for this are also very effective. I think people will
get aware about HIV on large scale and I hope eventually HIV will be controlled.

HIV has a lot of taboos attached to it, since many people think of sexual way of transmission as
the only way. What seems to be quite surprising is that the so-called intellectuals have opted to
keep themselves away from issues. RRE is a positive step in this direction, since it brings in the
class of intellectuals to deal with problems related to stigma and discrimination that PLHIVs
have to face.

Bharti Sontakke, a counselor from Daga hospital wanted to see the train herself and find out
ways to shun any traumatic feelings PLHIVs would harness. This would also help her in her
profession as a counselor. She put it wonderfully, when she said, If you will read, only then will
you save.

Even though the prime focus of RRE is on youth this time around, awareness for general
vulnerable and HRG population has always been its mandate.
Rajesh Yadav, a resident of Hingan road and a driver by profession comes about as a
simple man in simple clothes donning a beard and looking quite frail. He said with tears
in his eyes, I like train very much. It is telling you all good things and giving you very
28

important knowledge. I also got all the knowledge, though I have known about it
already. I am fighting the battle against HIV for the last one year. I have come here from
Allahabad for my Roji Roti. Wo bhi mil gayee aur saath me ye bhi mil gaya. Unable
to speak further; he silently moved away.

A middle-aged man who was listening to Rajesh speak came forward and said, I live in
nearby Devali, where I am the sarpanch. I have seen the train and got all the answers
quite satisfactorily. I am now informed about
the modes of transmission of AIDS, and the
ways to prevent it. I am very thankful to Indian
Government for giving us such valuable
information. I heard the other man (Rajesh)
speak and feel quite bad for him. All I can surely
say is that I will mobilize the people in my
village and see to it that such things do not
happen in there.

The general population not only understands
the information passed on to them, but it also
seems to have a sort of responsibility for taking
this information to its most usefully logical end.
According to Vandana Mhatre, a housewife who
came to visit the RRE along with her young
daughter, The information is really useful. I am thinking of my daughter, who is young
today, but when she grows up, precautions would have to be taken.

Similar concern was shared by Asha Sonavane, a housewife. She told, I am having
teenage kids, and so considering them I found the information in train very useful to
me. Formerly I was very worried and anxious about them. I have heard about HIV and
was scared. I was not having knowledge about how I would save my children from this
as they are growing. I was not sure whether I should talk to them or not on this subject.
Here I got what I want. I got the important information on condom usage and blood
testing. Now I can easily and confidently talk to my children. Today is my birthday and I
got the most precious gift.

Testing and counseling responses:

On both days, in all 384 people got counseled and 337 got tested.

Coach 6 had three counseling cabins and a blood testing section. Lata Pal, an ICTC
counselor working with Indira Gandhi Government Medical College (IGGMC) for the
last 10 years said,

We have got a good response from people. We have counseled close to 350 people.
People who came to me were mostly college students, college drop-outs and working
youths. They had come willingly. They were very excited. These youth was studying
MBA, BE, Marketing. Rest of the crowd was in general category. Many of them had a
29

single partner, but did not trust their partners. Those who were in risk were having
sexual encounters with their college friends but were unknown to their partners status
and had not used condoms. Some had visited FSWs, and so they had come for testing.
Some were in risk and were in window period.

She added further, A 45-year old man frequently visits FSWs. Some days back, he got
himself tested for HIV, and his reports came negative. He wants to use condoms from
now on, and he was here for condom demonstration.

People, who came in for counseling also went in for testing. Lata said, Of the 300
people who had themselves tested, only two were found positive. These two already had
done tests, and were here to only confirm their reports. I have done pre- and post-
counseling with my clients, and in the latter, I have stressed on Behavioral Change
Communication (BCC). What I have gathered is the phenomenon of trust for partners is
on the wane. That is the reason why people who did not exhibit risk behavior still came
forward for HIV testing.

The fears of transmission are due to inadequate or misleading knowledge about HIV. It
is reflected in the query youths or general people asked. A very common question from
youth was I have had only one sexual encounter. Will I still be tested positive? Lata
added. Further, she said, For such queries, we explained the difference between
antigens and antibodies test and also gave detailed information on window period.
She does confess to HIV as bringing about changes in the behavior of men.

One of my observations during these two days is the increasing number of bisexuals.
Risk is multiplying for them, I think. I found that boys who have different sexual
orientations are inclined to hide it. Though, as I mentioned above, I didnt find merely
MSMs, but bisexuals as well. Those who have opened their identity as MSMs have came
here only for testing. They were not interested in counseling, Lata explained.

Preeti Das, from Matruseva Sangh, ICTC and Rajani Sayre from Kuhi RH, ICTC have
been on job for the last five years. They told, We have counseled 700 people. All these
people have got counseling and thereafter proceeded to have themselves tested. Among
them only 3 people got positive reports. Youths have visited in large number. Their main
queries were on sexual contacts. We also told them about STI. Men in the age group of
25 to 49 were having more risky behavior.

Despite the festival and holiday mood, the response in Nagpur was encouraging and
enthusiastic. People from different walks of life came, explored and went back satisfied,
and also pledged to take this information far and wide. Moreover, the levels of
understanding the ill effects of stigma and discrimination had taken deep roots in them,
and they vowed to fight this social evil at all costs.

Trainings
Meena Kamble,56 year old belongs to the Rukmini Mahila Bachat Gat and had come
from village Kanhere 40 kms away from the Nagpur station. She attended the first
training and sensitization session on day 1. Remarked she, In our bachatgats the
30

Sahayogini didi would talk about STI and HIV. She once also told us about some programme for
HIV positive mothers. But I could not get what she was saying. Now after seeing this display and
listening to this didi, I have understood that there is a medicine called Nevrapine through which
the infant can be saved. Its actually a miracle drug. Isnt it? She further added that what she has
learnt also is the importance of condom. If men use it, then much of the trouble to the women
can be saved.

On day 1, around 204 persons were trained in 4 different batches. This was a mixed
group of Anganwadi workers, SHG members and youths. Day 2, 58 persons were
trained in 1 batch.
31


Amgaon, Gondia
Gondia district of Maharshtra is on the border of Madhya Pradesh and Chhatisgarh with
population of 1,322,331 as per 2011 census. Most of the people speak Hindi and the commonly
seen occupation is agriculture.
In the context of HIV, in Maharashtra there are 3 districts which lie in C category and Gondia is
one of it.
The third destination for Red Ribbon Express (RRE) in Maharashtra was Amgaon railway
station of Gondia district. Before this, RRE had been to Gondia station in 2007, but this time the
station chosen was not a district place but one of the blocks of the district. The train arrived on
the station on 9
th
March 2012 and inaugurated by Mr. Ramratanbapu Raut, Local MLA.
Inauguration:
Inauguration event was held at the outer side
of the platform where RRE was standing and
was fully crowded by people in. Prior to the
event, folk troupe of Asar Foundation from
Bhandara presented a very colourful play on
four routes of HIV transmission, about
misconceptions and on stigma &
discrimination along with the information of
RRE. They used traditional forms like
Vasudev, Gondhali, Lavani, Bharud and
Keertan, etc.
Around 10.30 am, the main event started. On
the dias were present MLA, Ramratan Raut, Chairperson of the event, Collector of Gondiya
district Mr. Sonole, and Chief Executive Officer of Health Department Dr. Gedam.
At this moment Civil Surgeon Dr. Milind
Sonavane told in his speech that Gondiya District
falls in the high prevalence category for HIV. He
said, We are finding 1400/1500 positive persons
yearly in our district. This number is worrisome,
and so awareness on the issue is very necessary.
With RRE arriving here, I think the need will get
fulfilled. The train consists of information as well
as training and testing. Hence I appeal to the
people belonging in 15 to 49 years age group to
32

come forward and avail the benefits of the services this train offers. They can also satisfy their
doubts and queries.
Mr. Gedam said, AIDS is growing like a monster day by day. This is a very serious problem
and hence government has initiated programmes like the RRE. People should therefore visit the
train in large numbers.
Mr. Ramratan Raut said, First of all we
should congratulate Indian Government and
health department for this unique initiative.
Until now, we have won battles against
various diseases but HIV seems to be an
exception. It is spreading rapidly from
urban to rural region. Hence what
precautions should we take to prevent it, is
what RRE is telling us. The train has
arrived specially to convey this message.
RRE is carrying with it lots of information
thats why I appeal to the youth to come in large numbers, explore the train, take the information
of prevention and how to live secure and safe life and live your life fully.
Pre-publicity and Preparation for RRE:
Amgaon railway station was selected for the halt of the train. Last time in 2007, RRE had halted
at Gondia, which is a district. This time it was another block which could cover the population
of, Deori, Salekasa, Amgaon and Goregaon. NH6 passes through this belt causing increasing
number of migrants. In this area dhaba-based and hidden sex work also takes place. During the
recent past it is seen that HIV
prevalence is increasing in Deori.
The preparatory work for RRE in the
district started almost a month back.
There were planning meetings at district
level and also with various categories of
groups like local youth, corporate
sector, gram panchayat, etc. Last
preparation meeting took place on 28
th

Feb. 2012. There were two trainings of
trainers, one for the staff members and
another for ASHA workers to be able to
explain the exhibits in the train and
conduct trainings at the training bogie.
All the Rural Hospitals were given a
33

letter signed by Civil Surgeon, District Collector and District Supervisor for their involvement
and support in service provision.
For reaching out to people from remote places and
villages, with the information about RRE, local
communication channels were used like Davandi
by Kotwal, Cycle Rikshaw announcing about RRE
on loud speaker, leaflets were distributed through
local newspapers which are read by maximum
people, newspaper advertisements were given, local
cable channels were used to communicate to people
about RRE, etc. Even some vehicles were arranged
for those people for whom it was difficult to come to
Amgaon from remote places.
Pre-event planning was very strong. Awareness
was spread throughout the district. Population of
youths from 30 colleges in the area and schools
were well informed about the campaign and time
slots were given to them to visit the train. This also
included boys and girls from the hostels, students
from Neharu Yuva Kendra. Representatives of various political parties were also informed about
RRE and their visits were planned, informed Civil Surgeon Dr Milind Sonavane.
There were 100 volunteers who were ASHA, ANMs and Anganwadi workers and 100 other staff,
which included all the ICTCs in the area, RH staff in the area, connected PHC and civil hospital
staff, NGO representatives and PLHIV network representatives, were involved in management
and service delivery.
Pre-event press conference was conducted on 5
th
March, for which 35 dignitaries were present
from police department, Gram Panchayats etc. to show their support to the campaign. 20
journalists were present for this conference.
There was good support of district collector, education department, police department and
railway authorities.
District supervisor Mr. Janekar said, This campaign is very important for us. Through such
events we can reach to maximum people. We have given good publicity to it, there is
involvement of government officials and we have done good planning for its success. We expect
10-12 thousand visitors to RRE.
Station Manager of Amgaon Railway station, Mr. Navin Kumar provided full support to Red
Ribbon Express. He said, I have seen the train and I liked it. Such initiatives are the most
appealing way of learning. It helps in spreading awareness and it ultimately helps in prevention
from infection. If 10% people are benefited and could prevent themselves from infection, it will
be great achievement of this train.
34

At the station, it was required to do lot
of arrangements as big crowd was
expected to visit to see the train. From
the arrangements of toilet facilities,
water supply to change in route or
platform for some trains was done by
the station manager and the staff. The
manager feels all these arrangements
for RRE is my contribution for the
cause of health and HIV. The station
manager had even motivated railway
staff to visit the train. Out of 30, ten to
twelve members had already visited the
train on day 1 and remaining were
planning to do so on the next day.
The RRE halted on platform No.1. In a day there are 10 trains which pass from this platform.
For the two days of RRE, those were arranged through another platform. The station manager
managed it through regular communication and coordination with Bilaspur zone.
General response in Gondia:
Mamata Turkar, a house wife who was on the platform with her sister and daughter. She was
going to Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh to drop
her sister. She was curious about the train and was
feeling sad that they were not having that much time
to see the train. She wanted to show it to her sister
also, but it was not possible. She had decided to see
it the next day.
Sapana Bansod, Lab technician, RH, Amgaon said,
Awareness and information imparting is very
important part of RRE for Gondia. Another is people
are getting information as well as services at the
same place. Here STI screening is also there and
medication is provided that is helping people
Sangita Lanjewar, volunteer at train who explained
about ART, said, I am providing information about
treatment of HIV. There are many myths related to
HIV treatment and I am trying to address those as it
is very important that everyone has right
information.
Total 4 stalls by NGOs were put up
during the RREs visit to Aamgaon.
NGP+ (Network of Gondia for Positive
People) popularly known Prerana
Margdarshan Sanstha. The network works
on extending care and support to the
positive people.
JCI Aamgaon, works with personality
development of children.
Mahila Arthik Vikas Mahamandal (MAVIM)
Drishti - works on targeted information with
FSWs.
District Rural Hospital, Gondia had a
special stall disseminating information on
TB and DOTS.
35

A group of college students who visited the train after seeing the exhibits told, we got good
information about HIV, about STI (Guptarog) and learned that condoms should be used to
prevent HIV and STI infection.
Ms. Santoshi, A house wife, who
visited the train with her
husband was inquiring about
HIV testing facility. In recent
past she had experienced
recurrent high fever, so she
wanted to get herself tested. She
told that she has come with her
husband to see the train. She
liked it and got lot of
information about HIV and
other health issues. She would
like to share this information
with her neighbours and friends.

Counselling and testing:
At bogie No.6 testing services were provided to the visitors of RRE. It had compartments for
registration, counselling, blood collection and also for STI screening.
At STI screening compartment also there was screening for STI, counselling was provided to the
patients and through syndromic management protocol, medication was also provided to those
who need it. Dr. Mrs. Mankar from RH Aamgaon and Mr. Jeetendra Borkar, STI counsellor
from Gondia were present to provide services to the visitors. On day one almost 33 patients were
provided medicines at the train and
more were counselled. Dr. Mankar
said, At many remote and small places
there is not much awareness about
HIV, difference between HIV and
AIDS, link between STI and HIV, etc.
And there are even many constraints in
service provision. RRE will help in
creating awareness and service
provision to more people in a short
time.
Mr. Borkar, the counsellor said, We
have seen many patients yesterday and
expect to see more today on day II of
RRE. For follow up, we are referring
36

people to rural hospitals. We expect to
get more patients later in RH and
district hospital also.
A team of 5 lab technicians performed
a wonderful job at bogie no. 6 where
HIV screening services were provided.
They had divided their work as
someone was collecting a blood
sample, some was actually doing tests,
some was preparing reports, some was
maintaining records, etc. There was
good coordination with the
counsellors also. After the reports
were prepared, the same were handed
over to the counsellors. By seeing the
PID number, counsellors used to take care that the same counsellor who has done pre-test
counselling would hand over the reports with post test counselling. Trupti Bajapai, lab
technician of Gondia government hospital ICTC said, There is a good response for testing. And
the best part is that there is not much gap between the number of people accessing counselling
services and number of people actually doing testing. On day one, there were 490 visitors who
did HIV testing out of 492 who accessed counselling services. And only a few have not collected
the reports, remaining all have even collected the reports on the same day.
Shradha Tajane, RH, Salekasa, Even there was rush of people to do HIV testing after the timing
got over, and they were telling that they really want to do testing. Those people are called today,
and for that we are going early to start.
A total of 1252 People were counselled and of them 1219 got tested for HIV on the two days in
Gondia.
Training:
At Gondia on day one of the RRE, 3 sessions were conducted - one for each category of ASHAs,
Anganwadi Workers and ANMs and the next day, for Panchayat Raj members, Police, and
Committee members of various committees in the district like the Tantamukta Samitee. There is
a team of 4 trained trainers to conduct these training sessions so that one person is not
overloaded with the sessions. One session is for one and the half or 2 hours and it gives details
related to HIV and also covers many related components.
37

Pramod Kalamkar is one of
the trainers who is also the
ICTC counsellor. He
conducted the training for
ASHAs. He said, There are
different slides made for
different categories of
participants. With the help
of those slides I tried to
have interactive session.
Many participants know the
basic information of HIV
like 4 routes of transmission
etc, but they did not know
details of many things. The
question-answer part of it
was good. The participants
did not know about HRG
population, confidentiality aspects related to testing and they asked the questions to get the
details of theses components. Stigma and discrimination and its effects on the person was
another important point about which discussion took place. The participants also had doubts
like during delivery if the fluid splashes on us, does it transmit the infection?
A team of ASHA workers participated in training on day one and some volunteered to manage
the crowd and to explain the exhibits to the visitors.
Shakuntala Sihore from Savangi, Gayatri Shende from Shravantoli, Kalpana Meshra,
Satyabhama Patale are ASHAs, who were participants of the training shared, As ASHA workers
we have got 3-4 trainings on HIV. In our villages, we meet people, interact with them, identify
their health problems, support them to access health services from nearby PHCs. We identify
ANCs and motivate them for institutional delivery, support them till the immunization of the
child. We identify TB suspects, accompany them for testing and support them for medication,
we help leprosy patients also. For HIV testing we take the person to RH. We have not yet seen
HIV positive person in our area.
Shakuntala said, About HIV, we had some basic information and we have also seen the
advertisements on television. But in the training which we attended today, we got much more
information. We have not yet come across any HIV infected person, but we are sure that if we
come to know about anyone, we will help that person to access services, to take medication. And
there is some scheme through which HIV positive people get some money/pension. We have the
contact details of the NGO which is helping people to access that scheme. If we come across
anybody who needs such support, we will help that person to reach to that NGO and access the
service/schemes available for him/her.
38

Yashoda Punde,
Shashikala brahmankar,
Mamta Katare, Meena
Bavankhade, Hemlata
Doye, Sunanda Rokade
are ASHAs who were
volunteers explaining
exhibits. They also told
that they could get the
opportunity to see the
train and impart
information in the train
just because they are
ASHA. Otherwise they
would not have got
permission from home to
come to see the train.
And now we can share
whatever we have seen
and the information we got here with other people, those who could not come to see the train
Mamta Katare said, I gave information about how BPL holders are supported through Janani
Suraksha Yojana. And how ANCs can travel free of cost for check up. She told how government
is taking up responsibility to take care of the pregnant women.
Pushpa Bhaykar, Vandana Borkar are ASHAs visiting RRE for the first time. When asked about
what they felt seeing all the things at RRE, their instant reaction was Chhanach aahe. Ek
number.... (Very Good. The best). The reason is they had not seen such train before which is
devoted to the issues of health and HIV. They also said that as ASHAs they give information to
people, but it is verbal or at most with the help of charts. But here there were various exhibits
and games, quizzes, etc. which were real interesting medium to give as well as take information.
It talks about health, our body, care of our body, what care adolescents and youth should take,
there is lot of information which needs to be passed to more people.
Vandana said, We are happy that we could reach to many people to share the information.
Even though Gondia is not a district with high prevalence, it is good that the train halted here.
People of new generation could be reached with the information and that will help in
maintaining low prevalence, she further added.
Babli, Mangala Dasary, Kanchan Lilhare, all nursing students, were volunteers explaining the
exhibits. They felt such train is very useful especially for giving information to those who dont
have access to information especially people from remote areas. They said, We explained the
posters and charts related to HIV which included the roots of transmission. We also explained
about how youth can protect themselves by not having multiple sex partners, and if they have
then how they can prevent themselves by using condoms.
39

Community Participation
A group of MSMs, from Gondia
visited the train. They saw all
the exhibits, and some of them
(who had not done HIV testing
in recent past) got themselves
screened for HIV. They shared,
there are many MSMs in the
district, but there is no
intervention or any NGO
working with MSM the district.
Some of us had been in contact
with the organisation,
SARTHI at Nagpur, we have
attended the meetings also.
Here in Gondia, we have our
own group and we keep
meeting each other.
We know that everyone is at risk of HIV, and MSM community has higher risk because of
various reasons like unprotected sex. Here its small place and people are not much aware, and
are secretly involved in MSM activities so its more difficult to get oneself protected. But we in
the group discuss about risks and share information about HIV and prevention, even accompany
each other for testing.
We got information about the train from someone and felt that we will get more information
about HIV. We saw the full train and feel that those who dont have information should come
here so they get right information in right way.
About ART they got more information than what they knew before.
One of the MSM group members was of the opinion that if the train would have halted at
Gondia, the response would have been more. It was shared with the group that it was important
to reach to the remote places with the information for those who dont have much.
One of the group members also shared that the information and route map of RRE should have
been available on internet, which many people would have accessed. Even publicity would have
been done through Facebook. It was shared with the group that such sources are generally
tapped by the educated crowed only, but the aim also is to reach to masses and those who dont
have access to such things. But it was a good suggestion and can be tapped next time. One
person told that leaflets were distributed through newspapers and they have seen those. A total
of 17128 people visited RRE on the two days of its halt at Amgaon.
40


Jalgaon

Jalgaon is a major city in the Khandesh region of Maharashtra with a population close to
0.55 million. The city is fast becoming an industrial one.

This was the third visit of RRE to
Jalgaon in three years. This made
the officials at DAPCU a little
skeptical as far as public response
was concerned. But their
skepticism was proved otherwise.
Jalgaon had a high turnout,
thanks mainly to very good
coordination and mobilization. A
total of 40657 People visited the
RRE in Jalgaon on 12 and 13
th

March 2012.


Pre-publicity events:

According to Dr. Pramod Devraj, DPO, Jalgaon DAPCU, Lot of preparation work had to
be done on platform too. We coordinated 36 Red ribbon clubs, IEC vans went to colleges
to do the pre publicity of the event.


RRE was arriving in Jalgaon for the third time. Its arrival in the district during the
school, board and college examinations was bit of a challenge. Meetings with city
administration and NGOs were conducted. Simultaneously IEC buses were doing
rounds at school and colleges announcing RRE's arrival, platform of SHG meets and
41

Khandesh festival were used to publicize the arrival of RRE. Posters, banners were put
at prominent locations.

Inauguration:
District Guardian minister and
agriculture state minister
Gulabrao Devkar, District
collector Mr. Rajurkar, JMC
commissioner Prakash
Bokhad, ZP president Smita
Wagh were present during the
inauguration of RRE, and they
collectively expressed a desire
to eradicate AIDS from India
like the way we have
eradicated Polio. Though there
was bandh protesting the
arrest of a veteran leader
Sureshdada Jain, RRE got
significant public response. People from all walks of life of different age groups and
social strata visited RRE. Eight NGOs had put up stalls to disseminate IEC material,
male-female condom demonstrations, interacting and providing information. There was
a blood donation camp organized on the platform. HIV-testing facilities were there at
the station as well, which in a way was unique. Magic shows amused as well as educated
the youths about facts of HIV. They were eagerly watching condom demonstration,
interacted with volunteers, and opted for HIV test.

Dr. Rathod, district civil surgeon said, RRE has arrived here for generating awareness
on HIV. The train is travelling since Dec. 2007 in yearly phases. The objectives of RRE
are giving information on HIV,
providing health services to
people and minimizing the
Stigma & Discrimination
against HIV positive people.
RRE is especially meant for
youths. HIV is mainly found in
the age group of 15 to 49. In
that too, its prevalence is large
in number in the age group of
15 to 25. We have 60% HIV
positive youth in this age group
in Jalgaon. In our district we
have found 1500 HIV positive
cases and 100 HIV positive
pregnant women. Thats why
Jalgaon District falls in the high
prevalence category for HIV. Hence we needed awareness to prevent the transmission of
42

HIV. RRE is fulfilling this need. We are initiating the concept India against AIDS with
the help of RRE and I hope we will succeed in it.
Commissioner of Corporation, Mr. Prakashji
Bokhad said, Due to RRE, we are having a
good campaign in the city. Like polio, we will
succeed to eradicate AIDS also. For this, we
need to come forward in large numbers and
avail the benefits of the services this train
offers. The train consists of information on
HIV. So we need to access this information
also. This will help to destroy the
misconceptions and fear of AIDS. RRE is very
useful and important in these terms, and
hence I appeal to all to visit the RRE. We can
also contribute to this campaign by passing
the messages to everybody.

Collector of Jalgaon, Mr. Dnyaneshwar Rajurkar said, The main objectives of RRE are
getting information on HIV, minimizing Stigma & Discrimination against HIV positive
people and eradication of AIDS through awareness. This year the train is focusing on
youth. It is necessary that youths be aware on HIV and it is good that RRE is doing the
same. Recent statistics shows that there are 7.5 lakh HIV positive people in
Maharashtra, and among them 61% are males and 39% are females. Jalgaon is in high
prevalence and hence awareness is very essential. It is time now that we take right and
correct information on HIV. It will help to minimize the Stigma & Discrimination.
Collective efforts of society will only eradicate AIDS is what I feel.

President of ZP, Mrs. Smita Wagh said, There are still lots of misconceptions around
HIV in the rural area. Awareness is the only solution to get rid of these misconceptions.
Vinod Dhage and his folk troupe performed a skit during the inaugural event.

NGO stalls at the venue:


43



PNJ+ (People Living With HIV Network of Jalgaon).

Their main focus is on giving care and support to children and people living with HIV.

This is a parallel network of positive
people in Jalgaon. Anita Patil is the
president, while Sundar Koli is the
vice president. Both the women are
pillars of this network. They are
running the project independently.
They are not getting funds for the
project. They dont have a fix
number of children in their project.
They help the children as and when
needs arise. Guardian minister of
Jalgaon Mr. Gulabrao Devkar gave
them a recommendation letter and
so Jalgaon Corporation has lent
them an office space free on one year contract. Mr. Devkar has been very helpful to
them. He has adopted five children in their project. He gives them monthly nutritional
and yearly educational support.

The IEC material they displayed were pamphlets & brochures on HIV, STI transmission,
safe sex practices, nutrition for PLHIV and condom promotion.

Rashtravikas Agro Education Sanstha, Ammalner: Their main focus area is
targeted intervention with migrants.

They displayed IEC material, booklets on HIV, brochures on referral services, ICTC, TB,
and PPTCT, models for condom demonstration and social marketing of Zaroor
condom brand. At the stall were present Project Manager Raviraj Patil, counselor Naval
Patil, ORWs Amol Suryavanshi, Sunil Sathe, Vinayak
Sonavane, Haresh Patil and Vikas Dole.

P.M. Raviraj said, The project is running from the last 18
months. The intervention is for entire Jalgaon district.
Their target was 5,000 last year and 10,000 in this year. All
the targeted population of last year has undergone HIV
testing. Among them 24 were found positive. Project is
having 3 DICs each in Bhusaval, Jalgaon MIDC and Sadoba
Nagar. The migrants are construction labor, industrial,
jewelry and hotel workers. They are from West Bengal, MP,
UP, Uttarakhand, AP, Bihar, Rajasthan, Jharkhand,
Chhattisgarh etc.

A total of 10 stalls were put
up by different
organizations during the
stay of the RRE at Jalgaon.
44

Aadhar Bahu Uddeshiya Sanstha, Ammalner: - works with link-workers and
PPTCT.

IEC material they displayed were posters and booklets on HIV, STI, OI and on ART. All
this material they got from AVERT and MSACS.
At the stall were present Bharati Patil, District Resource Program Officer (DPI 1) and
Manoj Chauhan, District Resource Program Officer Training (DRP 2). They said,
Project of link workers is running since two years. The testing number in their project
area is around 13,000; among them they have found 61 HIV positive persons, in which
11 are from HRG. They have identified 790 HRGs in their project area. 110 HRGs of the
total number have migrated, but remaining 680 HRGs are still in contact. 610 out of 790
have tested for HIV. HRGs consist MSMs & FSWs. Majority of the FSWs are home
based. They are mostly trading from their homes. Only in Jamathi village they are based
in brothel.

PNJ+ (Ankur Pratishthan), Jalgaon. Their main focus is on giving care and
support to PLHIVs.

They were displaying IEC material posters, pamphlets and brochures on HIV, STI, OI
and safe sex practices.

At the stall were Tushar Khandare, Project Coordinator, Shubhali Dhargav, Counselor
and Gokul Umale, ORW. Tushar said, The project is going on from last four years.
MSACS has provided DIC to them. 2300 adults and 450 children have been registered
in the project. They also have 10 HRGs with them, who are MSMs and FSWs. They are
providing educational and nutritional support to the children covered under their
project. They have helped 350 PLHIVs, to get the benefits of Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar
Yojana, Bal Sangopan and BPL schemes. They also help for the marriages of PLHIV.

Godavari Foundation, Jalgaon works on targeted intervention with MSMs and
FSWs.

They were displaying IEC material on HIV and ART. They were giving male-female
condom demonstrations at the stall. Free distribution of condoms and social marketing
of female condoms was also conducted by them.

At the stall were present counselor Vishwanath Kodi and some peers. Vishwanath said,
The project is running since 2005. Previously it was under the banner of Mukta,
Pathfinder but now MSACS is supporting us. They work on the issue of condoms, STI
check up and social empowerment of the MSMs, and FSWs. To empower socially the
project has provided them voting cards, ration cards etc.

Vishwanath told that at the stall they have provided counseling for everybody including
general population also. After counseling people go for testing. He said, Today 17 18
persons from general population were counseled and 8 of them have gone for testing in
which 3 were MSMs. Since morning, 8 to 10 MSMs have visited the train and got
themselves tested.
45

Ajay Patel, a peer of the project was also there. He talked about himself and about RRE.
He told that he has studied up to 10
th
Standard. He learned about his sexual orientation
at the age of 17. His family support him lot. He got associated with Mukta Project since
2005. He was tested for HIV in 2006 and found that he is positive. So he has got an
adequate knowledge on HIV since then. He is working in the project since 2009. He is a
positive speaker also.

Ajay explored the train from inside and disappointedly shares that though he liked the
train, the display and information; he wonders why there is no information on MSMs on
the train. He thinks on TV display or in the ads on TV they showed in the train; they
should have covered information about MSMs.

Folk Troupe:
For creating awareness in villages and for general population visiting the RRE, a folk troupe was
appointed. The name of the folk troupe was NAD Foundation from Aurangabad district. The
troupe was having two teams of 7
members in each. They were,

Ashish Jhadke, Jyoti Gangavane,
Chandu Patil, Durvas Karad,
Laxman Ahire, Suchita Londhe,
Santaram Shevale, Vinod
Landage, Vikas Kambale,
Bhushan Kadke, Ravi Bansode,
Keshav Salve, and Omkar Giri.

All the members were students in
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar
Marathvada University,
Aurangabad. They were students
of Drama Department. Some were highly educated in science, mass communication and in arts
faculty. They were students as well as professional artists also.

They used traditional folk art media forms like Shahiri, Lavani, Bharud, and Povada to spread
the desired message. They have done plays using this media forms on issues like AIDS, female
foeticide, and on water etc. The troupe had completed 88 awareness programs on HIV in Jalgaon
city and nearby villages (Don gaon, Nasirabad, Bhadali, Sakigaon, Bhusaval, Hingona,
Hambardi, Kingaon, Ajeebnagar, Varangaon, Navingaon, Udhali, Savda, etc.) and their target
was 208 programs. They talked about their experiences. They said that in some villages people
were so reluctant to listen about HIV that the very mention of the name and they left the place.
They did not want to know about it. Some villages were behaving differently. People in those
villages attended their program and watched carefully what was displayed. Middle aged women
were asking their queries in large numbers.

General response from Jalgaon:

46

A large group of children from
Khoobchand Agarwal School had
come to visit the train. All these
children were studying in 9
th
& 10
th
class. Instead of visiting
the train, some boys were just wandering here and there on
platform. When asked, how they find the train? They said
that they have yet to see the train. Do they know what the
train is about? They said quickly, Yes, it is on AIDS. They
shouted in chorus and ran away.



But some of the children of same school explored the train very carefully.

Vicky, an 18-year old boy was appointed to serve tea to all the members of DAPCU, NGO and
volunteers inside and outside of the train. He lives in Bhusaval and studied in Railway Colony
School, Bhusaval. He failed in 10
th
standard and then left the school. He now earns his living by
doing petty jobs. He has heard and read about HIV and knows a bit about it. He expressed his
wish that if he gets time, he would like to explore the train from inside.

Shahrukh was also working on platform. He was appointed for cleaning the platform. Aged 16
years, he was very smart and talkative. He left the school in 8
th
standard after he failed. He was
studying in Khoobchand Agarwal School. He was also aware about HIV. The creditable thing
was that he had explored the train in between his busy schedule. He liked the train and
information very much. Most of it he liked the information on how to keep ourselves safe.
Shahrukh had some queries too. He asked, Is masturbation safe? Can one get HIV infection
because of masturbation? Do excess of masturbation weaken the nerves?

Vishwas Patil and Sudarshan Kanade were sitting in the counseling compartment. Both were
having an experience of 6 years in counseling field. They were working in ICTC in rural
hospital, in Pal and in Nhavi respectively.
They shared their experience willingly. They
said, From yesterday we are observing that
young people are coming in very large
numbers. They are college goers as well as
workers who are working in Bhusaval and
Ammalner. What we realize is that they have
opened their minds here immediately
compared to any village or local ICTC. They
Sachin Patil is a student of Captain N. S.
Chandsarkar Adhyapak Vidyalay, Jalgaon studying
D. Ed. He said, I explored the train and was very
happy that it gave us the opportunity to get
awareness on HIV. Information displayed on the
train is really very nice & useful. For me personally
I like the information on how to keep ourselves safe.
I feel this information is very important to
disseminate also.
47

think that these people are outsiders, and so they can ask them anything freely. In local ICTCs,
they feel the risk of disclosure of their information to acquaintances. Youths from the general
population have come here voluntarily for counseling and testing. They were already aware of
HIV, and were having risky behavior. Some HRGs have visited us also. A TG from Bhusaval
visited us. He had tested himself for HIV in private clinic and he was here to get ART medicines.
So we referred him to local ICTC. We also identified MSMs in our clients. We refer such cases
to the MSM project.

Gaytri Patil, 3rd year nursing student, Very
easily got the information that I did not
earlier. I liked the models and posters. They
have described information so well that even
a layman can easily understand it.
Information we are getting through books or
government agencies is not so simple.
Altaf is a 19-year scrap dealer. He was
married and come to see RRE with his
friend. He said, I cannot read, and hence
my friend is helping me understand the
information.

Baliram Sonvane is 70 years old. He had come to visit RRE with his sons and grand children.
"This train is really a good thing that happened to us. This information is very important for the
next generation. I came to know that only 4 routes of transmission are possible. I have also
learned the ill effects of stigma and discrimination. Ill ask my friends and neighbors to visit the
train.

Mohmmad Irfan, 31 visited RRE with his entire family of mother, wife and children. He is a
graduate, and works as a carpenter. He said, "Now I know how to protect myself from the deadly
disease and others as well. I asked questions to a volunteer, and he answered all my queries. A
person won't go on a wrong path if he watches this exhibition"

Apeksha Salunkhe, 20. M.G.
College, Chopda came to visit
despite the bandh. She said,
Today is bandh but we were
told that RRE is coming so we 5
girls and 5 boys came to watch
this exhibition from Chopda, a
place 20 km from Jalgaon. Here
we came to know youths should
have only one relation, and that
in friendship one shouldn't go
beyond limits.

48

































Some of the Frequently Asked Questions which the
team on train and on the platform answered were:
How much one need to pay for testing?
Do the doctors change syringe while giving
injection to us?
How could a child of HIV positive mother saved
from the infection? What is the way for it?
Can HIV get cured after treatment and
medicines?
Can we know the symptoms of HIV without
testing? Can you identify HIV positive person
without testing?
Does HIV occur due to Homosexual encounter?
Do AIDS transmit by mosquito bite? Is it
contagious like chicken Guniya?
Is it transmitting if you stay with HIV positive
person? Should we have to separate such
person?
Older women asked, is there any need to test
themselves for HIV?
In what quantity they need our blood for the
testing?
How many days one need to live in the hospital
for HIV testing?
After testing if our report is positive, is it get
disclosed to everybody?
Can HIV transmit through kissing? (generally
asked by youth)
After the testing in RRE, what will be the next
process? If we wanted to test afterwards, what is
the process?
Can HIV get transmitted if in less than a second
two persons wounds come in contact with each
other?
What is the difference between ART and DBT?
If HIV positive person bites?
If HIV positive person scratches us with his
nails?
49

Counseling and testing:



Mohsin, Ajay and their three friends were excited about RRE. All of them were in the age group
of 14 15 years and lived in Tambepura Vasti. Mohsin said, I saw the train and I liked it. The
information I liked is on condom. For me also it is useful. Now onwards I will use the condom.
He asked, I have a girlfriend. I am faithful to her but she is not to me. So am I at risk? Will I get
HIV infection? Realising that this group has many doubts, they were asked to visit PNJ+ stall,
where Tushar and Shubhali satisfied their queries, showed them condom demonstration, and
eventually Mohsin and his friends went for testing.

Ajay studying in second year B. Com at Nutan Maratha College tested himself after seeing
RRE. He was very happy when he learned that his report is negative. He told, I am having two
girlfriends. I was not aware that multiple partners and unsafe sex can lead you to the risk of HIV.
Now I have seen condom demonstration on one of the stalls, and will certainly go for safe sex
practices.










Dr. Devraj said, We have put an
ICTC van near the reservation
counter. Testing booth on the
platform and in coach no. 6 is
getting a good response from the
people. Especially youth are coming
forward for HIV testing.
A total of 2331 people underwent
counseling and of them 2217 took
the HI V test in J algaon
50

Training:

A team of 4 ICTC counselors and
Medical Officer of the ART center
Dr. Nileema Choure conducted the
training of NCC cadets, ASHAs,
teachers and gynecologists. Dr.
Nileema said, Though people
have knowledge of HIV, they don't
know much about treatment or
new guidelines for ANCs. Educated
people, teachers are interested to
know how to recognize a HIV
positive person. They were in favor
of imposing compulsory pre-
marital HIV testing and doctors were of the opinion to do away with the confidentiality
clause for better treatment of the patient. Everyone felt stigma has really reduced a lot
compared to 10 years ago. "People are coming forward for the testing especially before
marriage. Amongst 4500 people on ART only two are from the other district of Dhule,
and rest all are from Jalgaon district. This shows that positive people are comfortable to
take ART from their districts of link ART center" stated Dr. Nileema. She told
Gynecologists were worried and asking us "If a spouse doesn't want to reveal his HIV
status to his partner what should we do?" We told them If a client is not ready open up
even after repeated counseling then s/he should be told that revealing your status to
partner is must as notified in the Supreme Court judgment. She added, They were
curious to know if every patient has to do HIV test before surgery? We told them "No, all
clients are not supposed to undergo HIV test. It is not at all a part of pre-operative
procedure.

A link worker asked, "A women
who is married thrice, tested
negative in HIV test. How can
it happen? Dr. Nileema
replied, We had to clear her
misconception that multiple
relation per say won't transmit
HIV. If a person is HIV
positive, only then there is a
possibility of HIV
transmission." Police personnel
asked if all condoms are of
good quality? Counselors
informed them that all
condoms distributed by
government or produced in India are of good quality because they have undergone
several quality checks. While a student was eager to know How Yoga is helpful with ART
to control HIV? He was told Yoga helps to reduce stress level and mental peace and
51

hence people on ART respond well to ART. However, it is not an alternative to ART. By
end of the session they were free enough to ask whether masturbation is a boon or curse.
Pankaj Fule, ART counselor said, "People were eager to know more about HIV. Most of
them had misconceptions about sexuality. One teacher asked us to do something to stop
adolescent children from indulging in sexual act. We tried our best to convince that
there is no such remedy available and it is better to engage with their sexual needs than
avoiding it. He further added, "We are finding 1 or 2 cases of new infections in each
village. These days we are concentrating more on reaching out to the chain of relations.
PPTCT, link workers are helping us to reach all.


A total of 503 were trained in 9 sessions on the two day halt of the RRE in Jalgaon. This
included Aanganwadi workers, AASHA workers, police and youths.









52


Bhiwandi

Bhiwandi, often called by the geographical sobriquet Manchester of India for having
the largest number of power looms in the country is a part of the Greater Mumbai
Metropolitan Agglomeration. The town is often said to be the richest in Thane district in
terms of per capita income. According to state government estimates, close to 4 million
people are dependent directly or indirectly on the loom industry, which dot the
Bhiwandi-Nizampur twin cities extensively. This also accounts for a huge floating
population, who come here in search of employment in these power looms. The
population of the twin cities according to 2011 census is 1 million. Demographically, the
cities have a poor sex ratio with 650 females to 1000 males.

The town is almost equidistant
from Greater Mumbai and
Thane (approximately 20 kms
from each). The Mumbai-Agra
highway cuts through it, thus
ensuring a very smooth
connectivity with the
metropolitan city of Mumbai.
Though there isnt a proper
railway station, it is served by
Bhiwandi Nizampur Road
railway station on the Vasai-
Diwa corridor.

Rate of literacy is quite low.
Healthcare awareness and
facilities and sanitation are of
poor standards. Disturbing the already poor social indicators is the high rate of HIV
prevalence. These were the reasons why, NACO specifically chose Bhiwandi for the first
time in the itinerary of Red ribbon Express (RRE), which came to Bhiwandi Nizampur
Road Railway Station for a one-day halt on the 16
th
of March.

Significance of RRE in Bhiwandi

Work of the NGO Rashtra
Swasthya Prabodhini
(RSP) is tantamount to
understanding levels of
awareness about HIV in
Bhiwandi. It works in
Thane district to raise the
awareness levels on
health, provides
53

healthcare services by way of a clinic and referrals, and promotes condom use as a
means of safe sex and to prevent STD/HIV/AIDS. The work started in 2001 and it
wasnt easy. Says Ajeem Ansari, a peer educator and one of the senior staff: It has been
difficult. First of all its a migrant population. Their priorities are clear making money
and eking a livelihood. They refused to listen to us. We were shunted out many times,
abused, and even beaten up. But we knew that it was necessary to talk to them and make
them aware of the risks that the community was exposed to.

RSPs AIDS awareness project gradually succeeded in raising the level of awareness in
the community and in giving those who needed it confidence to access services like the
clinic, regular health check-ups and condoms. A clinic started in 2002 provided facilities
like STD diagnosis and treatment, voluntary testing and counseling. The team at the
clinic established linkages with government hospitals in Bhiwandi, Thane and Mumbai
and arranged for referrals. Awareness creating IEC materials, behaviour change
communication (BCC) and events like World AIDS Day and festive occasions went hand
in hand with setting up condom vending machines in the locality and requests come in
from mohalla peace committees, madat committees, youth committees and even
individuals for a discussion on HIV/AIDS and STDs.

If these are measures of a positive change in the outlook of the people in general in
Bhiwandi, certain challenges prevailed and were in need of being addressed. RREs
arrival here was a further boost to getting awareness firmly rooted. Hectic activities
ensued after the arrival of RRE was announced.

Pre-publicity

MSACS geared up for the event by conducting
a two day Training of Trainers (TOT) for
volunteers, who were invested with training
representatives for a designated role in
different organizations. District Collector
convened a meeting of organizing committee
which was attended by representatives from
NRHM, personnel of Maharashtra Police,
employees of Municipal Corporation of
Bhiwandi-Nizampur and railways. The basic
intention was to effectively and smoothly
manage the whole event.


According to R. N. Singh, station master at Bhiwandi Road Station, a letter informing
the visit of RRE was received in February. Immediately, we had a meeting with the
divisional headquarters, and decided to avail platform 1 for the train, since it was
convenient to all, he said.

George Rodrigues, the RRE nodal officer for Bhiwandi said, Plans to mobilize people
were undertaken with the help of folk artistes. Four such groups were roped in and they
54

were asked to perform in 40 villages in the vicinity of Bhiwandi taluka to create
awareness about HIV/AIDS and RREs arrival for all to see.

He further added, 10 colleges in town were covered by an IEC van in order to have
students come in for the event. Students were encouraged to fill questionnaires, and
they readily obliged. We also did a detailed
study on location of stalls to effectiveness of
training sessions. Regular meetings with
mohalla committee members helped us in
mobilizing people for the cause.

AVERT Society helped organize the event by
mobilizing school students and the local
community. The response of the local
community was especially impressive.

In responding to pre-publicity events, Shyama
Prasad, joint director, IEC, NACO said, We
have used all IEC tools in place to reach out to
people, whether it is broadcasting on FM,
sending sms, advertisement in local and national newspapers, distributing pamphlets,
displaying hoarding, banners, miking through the town in auto rickshaw, IEC vans,
street plays, camps, ORWs, Link workers visiting the community, and this has had an
immense impact on the population at large.

Inauguration:

A host of dignitaries were
present during the
inaugural ceremony at the
station to welcome RRE.
Film actors, Sachin
Pilgaonkar and Supriya
Pilgaonkar, Ramesh
Devkar, Project Director,
MSACS, and Smruti
Acharya, Project Director,
AVERT Society were in
attendance. Sachin
Pilgaonkar said during the
inauguration, Everyone
should make it a point to
avail the informative facility on RRE, and thus share it far and wide. Supriya Pilgaonkar
said, The role of youth in fighting HIV is paramount. They should take care of
themselves and their families. If they have to take this message across the widest
possible spectrum of the society, they should first see to it that they are aware and well
trained.
55


After, the inauguration, RRE was declared open for people to go and see and explore.
Volunteers with various NGOs were part of the campaign to help and direct people to
the train.

Stalls:

1) NTP+: Network of Thane by People Living with HIV (NTP+) had their stall at the station,
where posters, pamphlets and booklets on HIV/STI were on display. People thronged the
stall to gather more information about HIV.

2) Mahima Mahila Mandal: this is a
community based organization (CBO)
working with female sex workers under
the aegis of Aastha Parivar. The mandal
comprises 137 members, and have been
in existence since 2008. Vocational
training has been provided for the
members and they are in the business of
making incense sticks, chocolates and
nutritional powder. The mandal also has
adopted 30 PLHIVs in their area and
they provide them with care, support
and services. The mandal actively
organizes and promotes health camps. The mandal is interested in running a canteen at
the Bhiwandi Road Station, where they would be providing nutritious food at a
subsidized rate.

3) Saryajani Utkarsh Mahila Mandal: according to Rekha Kamble, this mandal is a CBO
working with female sex workers in Ulhasnagar and Thane. Around 2000 sex workers
are affiliated to the mandal, which also runs a hostel named Navjeevan for children of
sex workers.



A blood donation camp
was organized during the
period, which witnessed an
enthusiastic response from
the youth.
56

General response at Bhiwandi:

The response in this town
was astounding with people
from different walks of life
crowding to see the train and
learn from stalls on the
platform. The response was
all the more encouraging
considering the fact that the
train halted here for just one
day. In all 10,816 people
visited the RRE in Bhiwandi.
According to R. N. Singh,
station master, there was
excitement in the air, when
the train arrived, since, it was
the first time, any such
exhibition train was coming in here. Said a colleague of Singh, We are all very excited
and I have come with my family to witness the RRE.

As at other RRE halts, in Bhiwandi too, college students outnumbers the rest. Gayatri
Naagar studies in XIth class at SMBC Science College, and she commutes to Bhiwadi
every day. She had read about RRE in newspaper, but she came to visit RRE after seeing
a poster displayed at the station. She said The exhibition is fantastic; it is advisable to
every young person to have a look at it.

Sharmin Sheikh, Sahila Syed, Sheikh
Anjum, interns at D.Y. Patil Medical
College, commended on the
informative nature of the exhibition.
Anjum said, It is good that all the
panels are in Marathi language and
this would be easy for local people to
read and understand. Posters and
other tools used to disseminate
information are self-explanatory.
They liked the first section,
particularly statistical information
about Maharashtra. They heard the
announcement made on Railway
station and thus decided to visit it.
Tejaswinin Rangari, Nikhil Boraste, Nana Sainkar, first year students and NSS
volunteers said that it is nice that this train has visited this station, though Bhiwandi is
near Mumbai it is close to it like a rural area. Tejaswini said, The audio visual tools
used are very effective.
57

Sushant Singh, Rakesh Gohil, students from Shriram College, did not know much about
HIV before visiting the exhibition, and therefore found the information very useful.
Rakesh said, I like many others did not know much about HIV, but after visiting the
RRE, it feels very different. I have more clarity on symptoms, prevention, and mode of
transmission, support and care. I have taken an oath of not succumbing to addiction and
would remain committed to it. Moreover, the telephonic information on board is simply
amazing.

Sonali Aareghe, Manisha Solse, Uma Kamble commute to Bhiwandi from Kalyan,
Palghar, and Thane for education. They liked the pictorial arrangement of the
exhibition, since they found it self-explanatory. They particularly liked the section on
youth. The panel that talks about selection of the partner was particularly useful. It sort
of triggered our thoughts, said Manisha.

For Arundhati Gurav, principal, Sau Minatai Thakare Institute of Nursing, Thane, and
the experience was a memorable one to remember. She said, The communication on
board is a two-way process/ I have
learnd so many things in a day like ART
medication, about which I was quite
unaware. I have got to know of
transmission modes, in preventing and
controlling HIV, and very importantly,
to keep out stigma and discrimination. I
am very happy since 15 of my students
underwent HIV testing without any
inhibitions. The only thing that saddens
me is a one-day halt. A longer halt
would have benefited many more.

Anna Joy, Assistant Project director,
AVERT was all praise for the work carried out by NGOs in propaganding about RREs
arrival in Bhiwandi. Anna said, This response is fabulous. Resource persons are
working hard to translate information into Hindi, as many migrants do not understand
Marathi. These workers are recording their feedback in a most enthusiastic manner. I
am certain that RREs extensive campaign will definitely help to scale up migrant
outreach program.

Training:
Training and counseling sessions conducted by counselors and volunteers on platform
and on train had a big impact on the people. Though the participants were less in
number and only 47 attendees were seen across the three sessions, a lot of
misconceptions regarding HIV were driven away in the sessions and modules designed
specifically for the purpose. People got the platform to ask questions related to sex, STIs,
which hitherto they had reserved thinking them as highly private in nature, and thus
making them vulnerable to secondary and misdirected information. In addition,
training sessions and modules gave detailed information on modes of transmission,
precautions and prevention methods to be undertaken. The impact of RRE in Bhiwandi
58

could be gauged from the fact that many people came out openly to discuss issues
pertaining to personal relationships, contact with female sex workers, which was quite
unthinkable in earlier times.

Kiran Prithviraj Patil, who works as Trainer for drivers in Mumbai Railway Police
participated in training. She said, I got detailed information on HIV. Previously, I had
no information about it. This is my first exposure to such training. She said most
importantly I understood mode of transmission, prevention and care. It helped reduce
the fear that I had, she added. She was all praises for the way the training was
conducted.

Seema Kamble, PSI, said, I am glad that I was assigned duty here today. Because of
which I could attend the training. Training has a different impact. They explain
everything in detail and clarify doubts.

Testing:

Coach 6 on the RRE was exclusively designed for testing. The coach had a special
attraction for a lot of people, as therein they could undergo tests with total anonymity
and thus clear doubts about their privately held fears and inhibitions. These sentiments
were even echoed by Shyama Prasad, joint director, IEC, NACO. He said, One reason
for huge crowds at the coach was its easy accessibility. In our daily busy schedule,
people tend to ignore health needs, and often skip visits to medical practitioners. On the
contrary, on RRE, testing is not only easily made available, but the results are delivered
in an hour, thus making it feasible for people to undertake this option.

Mohammad Anwar and Ajitkumar Verma are textile supervisors from Bihar. Though
they were aware of HIV, the exhibition helped
further their knowledge and information. They
could not speak or understand Marathi, but got
full cooperation and information from the
counselor. They gave good and satisfying
answers to our questions, Ajitkumar said. Both
of them underwent HIV testing, and upon being
asked for choosing RREs testing facility, said in
unison, Facility is easily accessible and the clinic
is far away from where we live.

Kulsmukha Singh, a marketing supervisor in a
private company liked the exhibition. He said,
The information about mother to child
transmission was new and useful. I had no idea
about it. He admitted being glad for visiting the
RRE. I had committed some mistakes in life,
and ever since was shrouded in doubts. This visit
gave me the best chance to undergo testing and
clear them.
59


Ravi Stupatti, Padmanabhan Bhan, Devidas Yellutla, work in a power loom in Bhiwandi.
They learnt about RRE through a camp conducted by an organization. They also
presented a street play in the slum. There was a big mob who watched this play, said
Devidas. Devidas also runs an organization in the slum to address issues of local people.
He further added that the exhibition was good, and this train should come here at least
three to four times a year in order for many people to visit it. People from the slums
need to know, since they have lot many misconceptions about HIV. Devidas was
accompanied by 20 to 25 people. They all did the HIV test. He said he gets tested once
every three months, and also organize camps to make workers aware about HIV.

Aparna Sanap, student of second year at RGNM Nursing College, said, Information
given is useful for uneducated and illiterate, as they can easily understand it. She and
her six friends underwent HIV testing.

Awareness levels have indeed gone up over the last few years. This was evident in
Bhiwandi, where people shunned their inhibitions and voluntarily went for counseling
sessions and HIV testing.

The general impression of RRE coming to Bhiwandi, even if for a day, was full of
positive vibes getting generated on the awareness front, as a lot of people could break
social shackles that had bound them for long, and come out in the open to witness and
participate in the biggest ever social mobilization and HIV awareness campaign in India.


While 360 were counseled for HIV, 342 actually went for testing in Bhiwandi.
60


Ahmadnagar

Ahmadnagar is the headquarters of Ahmadnagar District, the largest in size in
Maharashtra. The historical city is known for presence of premier defense institutions.
Economically, the district is known for sugar factories, milk and dairy cooperatives. The
famous pilgrim center, Shirdi is located in this district.

RRE drew in substantial crowds at Ahmednagar during its two-day halt on the 17
th
and
18
th
of March. The total crowd that visited the RRE here was close to 19,258.

Getting ready:

District Level Organizing
Committed (DLOC)
headed by District
Collector was formed and
with the help of this
committee discussions
with higher government
officials were conducted.
Mr. Sadanand Jadhav
Resident Deputy Collector
helped in generating
appropriate documents.
Personal invitations were
given to the notable
people of the district. A
letter from DLOC made a
desired impact.

According to Dhanaji Ranpise, is the Programme Officer, Avert Society, MSACS had
conducted training for all DAPCU officials in February itself. As per their guidelines,
activities were planned and implemented. NGOs associated to DAPCU such as NADP+,
John Paul, Snehalaya & Priyadarshini shared major responsibilities.

NADP+ was given charge of Banner and Food arrangement, Snehalaya was given charge
of opening ceremony and communication with dignitaries, Priyadarshini was given
charge of vehicle arrangement and volunteers, John Paul was given the responsibility of
IEC material and mobilizing volunteers. About 580 colleges were sent letter. 10 to 20
invitations cards were given to the office bearers of the Public Representatives.
Invitation cards were also given to NGOs to distribute among their SHGs.

Pre-publicity on RRE was started 10 days before the arrival of RRE. Folk troupes were
sent in 100 villages of Ahmednagar district. NGO Priyadarshani that runs a Link
workers scheme in 100 villages of Ahmednagar used the strength of approximately 3000
61

workforce to spread information related to RRE in 100 villages in which 40 link
workers, 1300 Red Ribbon Club members, 181 core staff and 1275 volunteers were
involved. It conducted meetings with
each of these groups and shared
information about RRE, its purpose,
objectives, and the role each group
has to play in disseminating
information about RRE and share
responsibilities to make it a
successful event.

Mr. Ranpise opined that RRE should
visit stations located in taluka places
so that it becomes accessible to rural
community. He believed that the
post impact of this event is going to
be beneficial. People would be more aware as RRE is contributing towards peoples
confidence by bringing this information in space where people of all class come
together. The highlight of this event he says is Parents are bringing their children to see
this exhibition. This is a good sign, it shows that the taboo related to HIV is gradually
diluting.

Vaijayanath Lohar, Project Manager, snehalaya said, Our main focus groups were
MSMs and FSWs at taluka places. Snehalaya gave information of RRE on F.M 90.4.
SMS were sent to Snehalayas 5000 regular donors. Civil surgeons and P.Ds were asked
to appeal people to visit RRE on F.M. In each town there are ORWs and P.Es, and
emails were sent to them and the project staff and were asked to mobilize beneficiaries.
Facebook was used by a FSW to share information on arrival of RRE and its details.

DAPCU conducted meeting with NGOs 15 days
before the arrival of RRE. Responsibility of
inaugural function was handed over to
Snehalaya. Responsibility of coach was shared
between Snehalaya and NADP+.

According to Prashant Yende, President
NADP+, NADP+ took the responsibility of
publicity campaign of RRE in Ahmednagar
city. The campaign commenced 15 days before
the arrival of RRE. On 24
th
February 2012,
volunteers were given training to run the
campaign. It was followed by staff meeting
where implementation plan was shared with
staff and responsibilities were distributed to
them. A group of volunteers was formed to
share responsibilities. MSW students, ORWs,
Peer Educator and PLHAs, who desired to
62

volunteer were all included in volunteering group. One day orientation training was
given to them, and responsibilities were shared according to their age. MSW students
and volunteering PLHAs conducted street plays. Staff took the responsibilities of
inviting dignitaries, and government officials.

Distribution of pamphlets, displays of
banners, news paper advertisements,
interviews on local F.M channels,
delivery of appeal letters to school,
colleges, ICTCs and Rural hospitals
were common feature of the campaign.
Among the others publicity activities
IEC van with speaker moved around
different college campuses announcing
arrival of RRE. Street plays were
conducted on cities prime areas such as
bus stand, market place, Nagar colleges,
prime squares, like district office, civil
hospital, shopping malls, taluka ICTCs.
Government offices were visited, and its
officials were appealed to take
advantage of the exhibition.

District Supervisor of Ahmednagar
DAPCU, Ms. Sheetal Patil shared her experiences about the preparations they did at
district level for RRE. She said, From January end onwards the meetings with MSACS
started for planning, training etc. As per suggestions and guidelines of MSACS, district
level organising committee (DLOC) was formed under the leadership of district
collector. And then planning and coordination at district level started. Meetings and
briefings were done with each department like women and child welfare department,
health, education, legal authorities, traffic, NRHM, MAVIM, DRDI, NYK.

Considering the location of railway station, the trains passing through the station and of
trains halting at the station, etc., the team had realized that response to RRE will mainly
depend on the pre-publicity. Sheetal said, Keeping these things in mind, planning for
publicity was done. From 6
th
March, i.e. 12 days before the RRE, 2 folk troups did street
plays giving information about RRE and
HIV.

They did approximately 104 performances
till the time train came to Ahmednagar. IEC
van distributed IEC material in the villages
as well as in the city. IEC van used to move
in the city through public places including
colleges, markets during the day time
distributing IEC material, and use to go to
63

the villages in the evening when villagers were free and available.
There was good tie up with NGOs in the district working for the cause of HIV.
Responsibilities were shared by the NGOs. NGOs even sponsored or supported to get
sponsors identified for printing of banners, certificates. NGOs also supported for
developing route maps, initiating some activities, assigning volunteers, reaching out to
people at remote places.

ASHA workers, ANM students, MSW
students and NGO staff members,
ICTC counselors and lab technicians
volunteered for explaining the
exhibits, providing services,
addressing the queries of visitors,
managing the crowed etc. They were
trained in advance. There were38
volunteers for explaining the exhibits
and 50 to manage the crowed inside
and outside the train.


Sharing about the significance of RRE for Ahmednagar district, Ms. Sheetal Patil,
District Supervisor said, presentation At a glance in the train is useful. This access to
information will surely reflect in accessing services by people including HRGs.

At Ahmednagar railway station, Station Manager provided all the support to RRE which
halted on platform No.2. Station Manager Mr. Patil said, They had got a circular
through health ministry regarding the train and support for it. Ahmednagar railway
station comes under Solapur division, so he had to coordinate with them and do all the
arrangements. Water supply and cleanliness on the platform and also of the toilets were
important thing to maintain and was managed well.

The station manager of
Ahmednagar railway station had
motivated staff and his families
to see that train. Around 70%
staff visited on first day to see
the train.

According to Mr. Patil, This is a
very good initiative of Indian
Railways. This initiative is
contributing a lot in generating
awareness about HIV especially
in young generation.



64


Preparation:

Mr. Vijay Kulkarni of MSACS (IEC dept) shared about the preparations of RRE at
MSACS. He said, The panels of
exhibits in RRE were prepared at NACO
level and were done in English. After
that each state translated the same into
the local language. At MSACS level also
meeting was conducted where
representatives of all the districts
participated and prepared a draft
version of panels in Marathi
incorporating the words used at all the
places in Maharashtra. And then the
panels got made in Marathi. Language
panels were made by the agency
assigned by NACO.

Even though the train came to Maharashtra on 5
th
March 2012, the preparations at state
and district level were going on much before it. With other preparations at state level,
the major part of coordination was with the districts and preparations at district level.

He continued, To make it easy, the first meeting was conducted by SACS in the end of
January with District programme Officers (DPOs) and District supervisors (DSs) of
those districts where the train was going to halt. In that meeting the planning was made
about the activities during and before the train visits a particular district. Each district
was guided to form DLOC i.e. District level organising Committee, under the leadership
of district collector. Many stakeholders were part of this committee. This helped in
involvement of all the stakeholders in the campaign. The meeting of folk troupes were
also conducted and plans were made to have folk troupe performances 6 days before
and the train visits particular district. The folk troupe performances took place in the
villages and public places not only near the particular station but in other talukas and
remote places also.

Another important thing to do was to identify volunteers at district level and train
them. These volunteers were NCC/NSS students from colleges, social work students,
Nursing students, ASHA workers, NGO representatives and also ICTC counsellors and
lab technicians. They were supposed to be trained as they were expected to perform
specific task of explaining the exhibits or conducting the trainings etc. At SACS level
training of trainers was conducted for DPOs, DSs, and NGO representatives who trained
other volunteers in the district. These district specific trainings for volunteers helped as
district specific areas could be considered while giving information to the visitors. Each
district was supposed to have IEC van that did pre publicity of the train in their
particular district. This van was carrying IEC material which could be distributed to
people. This IEC van was supposed to be moving for 6 days prior and 6 days later to
RRE, he added.
65



Inauguration:

RRE was inaugurated by
Guardian Minister of
Ahmednagar, Babanrao
Pachpute. Other dignitaries
included Dr. Sanjeev
Kumar, District Collector,
Ms. Rubal Agrawal, CEO of
Zilla Parishad, Civil Surgeon
Dr. Devidas Athavale,
District Health Officer Dr.
Kharat and Mr. Sanjay
Bargund, Additional DSP.
In his inaugural speech Mr.
Pachpute said, Every one
should take care of own
health and body and prevent
own self from infection. But
addressing stigma and
discrimination associated with HIV is equally important. HIV infected people should get
respectful treatment from others.

District Collector Dr. Sanjeev Kumar said, Campaigns like RRE contribute a lot in
generating awareness among people about HIV which was see in last few years.

Mayor (first female mayor) of Ahmednagar visited RRE, saw the full train and tried to
collect more information about HIV services at district level from CS, Dr. Athavale. She
said, many times girls and women are not very open to go to hospitals and get
themselves tested, which will be possible here at RRE. And here also confidentiality will
be maintained which will contribute in increased comfort level.








66

General response at Ahmadnagar:

The total turnout at Ahmadnagar was around 19,258 on both the days. Those who took
the lead in visiting RRE and accessing information were largely school and college going
students.

Aniket Nijwate, Dhiraj Satpute, Pranil
Survase of Basveshwar College studying
in XII class said that the exhibition is
good. Previously had very little
information, but now have in-depth
information about the virus and how it
transmits. Aniket said, I also
understood use of condoms. When
asked whether they did HIV test? They
said, No, feel scared of injection,
blood.

Students of Pravara Medical Trust said,
Their professor gave them the
information about RRE. They shared
that the information on Health
education, nutrition, preventive
measures, and immunization was very
well presented.

Shivram Mukane, health inspector said,
This is the best concept. All the aspects
related to HIV are very clearly
mentioned. This programme would help
to change the attitude of people.

V.K. Wagh, an operator from a chemical
company said, There is a lot to learn
from this exhibition. Volunteers were
Stalls by NGOs:
Drop-In-Center (DIC) by Network of
Ahmednagar by People Living with HIV
(NADP+): Sangeeta Darade and Sujata
Mahamine were in charge of the stall. Main
focus of the stall was on information
dissemination on HIV and services provided by
the DIC. The posters and other publicity
material such as pamphlets, leaflets etc. were
used. Free condoms were distributed here.
About 400 to 500 visitors visited the stall and
took advantage of the information.

AVERT, Priyadarshini: Bodhakbaba Sabhu was
in charge of the stall. Publicity material such as
pamphlets, posters and other tools were kept
on the stall. The visitors were given information
on HIV & AIDS, and their queries were dealt
with.

Udaan (Social Marketing Stall) Syed Amir,
Supervisor, Miracle Event appointed by HLL
company, a government subsidized company.
Mr. Amir is travelling with RRE from Nashik,
and since then he has installed condom
promotional stall where Deluxe and Udaan
condoms are sold. Men between the age group
of 18 to 50 approach him and ask questions
related to use of condoms. So far, he has
conducted 300 condom demonstrations and
provided consultations on use of condom to
1500 people. Mr. Amir likes giving information
to youth who are completely unaware about use
of condom and are curious to know.

Childline: two stalls were present at the station
to deliver information about its Childline and
Mukta Project.
67

explaining the notions well, and so I understood it well. Information given over phone is
a very good idea as it gives sense of confidentiality.

Dattatre Pansare, estate agent
said, That it is a good effort to
generate social awareness. It
would help to reduce stigma
and discrimination faced by
HIV positive people.

R. S. Trimbak is an assistant
teacher from Shriram
Vidyalaya. He said, The
exhibition is very good.
Guidance is given using
attractive computerized media,
and hence it catches attention.
He learned about RRE from
different media, through
newspaper, news on electronic
media when RRE entered Mumbai, and also received ringtone on RRE.

Nursing students of Schumacher School of Nursing-FJFM, Mission Hospital Wadala,
Nursing school said, Exhibition was really very good and informative. We liked all the
information, but especially liked information on prevention, support and care, stigma
and discrimination, mother to child transmission of HIV.

Preeti Jadhav (name changed) works in a company, she read about RRE in newspaper.
She is HIV+ve. She had come here with a hope that she HIV prevention vaccine would
be available here. She asked they are doing some test here? What sort of test? Are they
giving vaccine? after answering all her questions she felt dejected. She shared her story.
Her husband and her son are also HIV+ve, son is six years old, and she said, I thought
if they are giving vaccine here I could bring him tomorrow. She shared all her worries
about his future. She innocently asked why havent they found a vaccine on this as yet?
No answer could be given; she was politely directed to counselor.

Three senior citizens above 70 years came to see the exhibition. Mr. Bhikku B. Tambale
worked as a laborer in Army. Mr. M.K. Gaval worked in BSNL as a peon and Mr. B.M.
Patel worked as a laborer. They learned about the exhibition through newspapers and
banners displayed in the vicinity of railway station. They live close by. They liked the
exhibition and believe that this sort of intervention would help youth. They commended
this event initiated by government of India. They said, Youths from all over the nation
should take advantage of this information. They have informed about RRE to their
family members.



68

Counseling and Testing:
Sharmila Maske, counselor, said,
Response is very good. Several
railway workers and official are taking
advantage of this facility. It is nice to
see people coming forward to conduct
voluntary testing. Most of them ask
`Would HIV ever get cured?

Students of class XI of New Arts
College of Talegoan said that they got
good information on health, and how
they should take care of themselves
and reasons behind it, on how to take
care of children, and about condom
and condom dispenser. Out of thirteen students one of them asked whether the test
conducted here is safe. They conducted HIV test. They liked information given over
phone and they all took Oath of no-addiction and have committed to keep it.

Varsha Ohol, counselor at Rural Hospital Parner, said, Here people are interested in
testing. Several people have conducted voluntary testing.

Amol Kavade, Sanitation worker at Ahmednagar Railway Station, said that the
information was very informative and added, I have learned a lot many new things. He
also got tested. When asked the reason, he quipped, Because all my colleagues have
done so.

Around 379 people got counseled and of them 249 opted for HIV testing during the
trains stay in Ahmednagar. 225 people accessed STI counseling services.


Engaging wth Stigma and discrimination:

Shekar, Nitin, Karmude, Balasaheb, of Dayanand College, students of BBA, felt that
RRE is good for youths of their age, it gave detailed information and is in simple easy
language. Nitin said, I particularly liked information given on what youths need to do
to change their behavior and protect them. The information on how mother to child
transmission can be avoided was completely new. They also felt that if they come across
any person with HIV, then they would be able to easily accept them, as now they are
aware about modes of transmission.

A group (8-10) of villagers from Gundegaon, Ralegan taluka, visited the RRE. 8 of them
were SHG members. Village level coordinator informed them about RRE. Most of them
were illiterate and hence they could not follow the script. But from the visuals they
learnt that, HIV does not spread by touching and it is transmitted through blood; it is
not contagious and that is not good to isolate people.
69

Chanda Waghmare was a volunteer and a MSW student. As a child, I had seen a person
from my village being isolated, discriminated and stigmatized. Therefore I had fears
about people living with HIV, but due to my internship with NADP+, the fears were
diluted, she said. She feels that the exposure of RRE and sharing of information related
to HIV & AIDS to people in general has helped to remove internalized anxiety that she
has carried since her childhood.

Prasant Kude works as a laborer on railway cargo. He underwent testing, just because he
and his other friends felt like doing it. When asked about the exhibition, he said that he
did not understand most of the things because he cannot read fluently. His friend
Santosh Takawade who is doing his B.E explained several points to Prashant and other
friends. He said, He liked information given about stigma and discrimination as well as
care and support, and prevention. Santosh took the oath, and is committed to follow it.
However Prashant and other three friends of his who also work as laborers did not. They
said, We are already addicted and now it is difficult to commit to give up.

Training:

There were four
members in the
training group.
Two trainers
conducted the
training together.
Training team did
not include
positive speakers
in their team.

The team of two
followed the
training format
handed over to
them by
NACO/MSACS.

Here training was
given to ASHA,
ANMs, SHG members, BSF, Teachers, Police, Nursing students, Aganwadi workers and
BSW students. Mr. Sunil Gir, counselor of Rural Hospital, Puntamba said, The content
of the training varies as the group of trainees. They take into consideration the
background and the requirement of the group. For e.g. ANMs have sufficient
information about HIV & AIDS, and therefore, they try to give in-depth scientific
information and sensitize them, such that they are able to use this information while
dealing with patients they work with. Questions asked by ASHAs are related to concerns
about the means as to how information should be transferred at the grassroots levels.
70

Similarly, while giving inputs to professionals like Police or Teachers or BSF, our
approach is more on sensitization.

When asked what sort of questions trainees asked? Mr. Giri said, Some police
personnel were unaware about the fundamental concepts of HIV, so they ask basic
questions. Most of the people, he said are not interested in knowing national statistical
figures, but want to know about their district status. So district level information is
provided and services provided by different NGOs are deliberated.

Four Police Officers Archana Kale, Jyoti Randive, Swati Toradmal, and Janabai
Sonawane, were very impressed after the training on HIV & AIDS. Earlier they had
general information about HIV. They said that they had never got this sort of
information before and that they were completely ignorant about female condoms. They
had never heard about it before. Never seen any advertisement about it as the male
condoms are advertised. Jyoti Randive said, This training has given insights about
several aspects of womanhood and sexuality, the kind of topics which they do not talk
about much. Information about menstrual cycle, little aspects of HIV & AIDS were very
new to them. They had never attended any such workshop or training before. Inspired
by training all four police officer underwent HIV testing.

8 batches of training, with 60 participants in each, took place for ANM, ASHA workers,
teachers, SHG members, police, youth etc. In all 349 were trained on both the days.

Alpana Alhat, counselor at Rural Hospital, Wambari, Rahuri taluka, said, Young boys
visiting from the nearby slum area are more in number. They ask questions related to
sexuality more than HIV. She felt that most of these boys do not have space to get
information about their changing body needs. Questions asked by people visiting from
rural area were more related to stigma & discrimination. She further added that
conducting test here is more convenient as there is anonymity, as no one here
recognizes them.

According to Dr. Ravindra Mutha, DPO, Ahmednagar DAPCU, We have worked as per
the guidelines set by NACO. We are satisfied with the response, as we did what we
could, though we were short of people and short of resources. We did not have any
experience of organizing an event on such a large scale. We took support from several
organizations and institutions. 20 local institutions contributed in making this event
possible.

Apart from poor resources and manpower, other big challenge the event has faced is
that most of the people commute by road. Not many trains run on these tracks. Dr.
Mutha also added that the folk troupes failed to make an impact.

Mr. Yende from PLHIV network shared that network provided full support to RRE.
There were 150 network members who participated inaugural function; there were 30
volunteers of network inside the train. They were also involved in planning with
DAPCU. Network also provided support to DAPCU to send letters to some of the
Grampanchayats, secondary and higher secondary schools, local leaders and zilla
71

parishad people. They also supported by hiring Auto Rikshaw for distributing IEC
material.

About RRE he said, such an initiative will not only be helpful for spreading awareness
and providing services, but it will also contribute in reducing stigma and discrimination
and increasing acceptance for positive people. This will create space for positive people
for the disclosure of the HIV status

The next stop of RRE in the state was in Latur.
72


Latur

Latur with a population of
0.4 million is a major city of
Marathwada region in
Maharashtra. It is the
headquarters of Latur
district. Economically, it
thrives on food grains trade
and oil mills are in plenty.

Latur was the 8th
destination of RRE in
Maharashtra in phase III.
In second phase also RRE had visited Latur, but at that time it was at Latur Road
railway station, and this time it was at railway station in Latur city. The train visited
Latur on 19 & 20 March 2012

The inauguration took place at the hands
of district collector Mr. Bipin Singh. All
the district authorities and dignitaries
were present for the inaugural function. At
the time of inauguration Bipin Singh said,
HIV can be controlled but not cured. So
awareness is the only solution. Those who
dont have the information, need to get it
and those who have information, need to
share it with others. He also said that
government is very serious about the
issues of HIV and that is the reason, such
a special train is there. He added, People
should use this opportunity to get more
and more information. Everyone who has
seen the train should reach to 5-10 people
and tell them to visit the train. He
appealed youths to get clear and right information. In the train there are counselors
available, and there is an opportunity to have individual interactions and clarifications
of doubts.

The CEO of Zilla Parishad Mr. S.P. Singh said, In the case of HIV, information is a key
to prevention and therefore RRE is very important. He also said, The motto we have is
getting to zero, that means there shouldnt be new infections. And for that youth should
be aware and equipped with the information so that they can take care and also spread
the information to others. HIV information should reach to masses to move towards 0
(zero) of new infections
73


Before the inauguration function,
when volunteers and other visitors
had already come at the venue, CEO
of Zilla Parishad Mr. S.P. Singh and
Dy. Director of Health Services, Dr.
S. S. Patil interacted with ANMs,
ASHAs, and other participants about
HIV information and services in
Latur district.

Other dignitaries present for inaugural
function were, Dean of Medical College,
Railway station Manager, Lions Club
representative, coordinator of MAVIM, District
information officer, and teams of DAPCU, civil
hospital, NGOs, etc.

At the time of inaugural function, through a
lucky draw, 10 winners of the quiz competition
conducted in the colleges were selected. They
were to get a prize of Rs. 350/- each.


After formal inauguration, the train and exhibits were open for the visitors to see.

Pre-publicity and preparations:

At MSACS level, IEC department did all
the planning. Nodal persons had been
appointed for each district, and that
person took up the responsibility to
oversee the preparations and support the
teams of that particular district.

Mr. Wani from MSACS was nodal person
for RRE for Latur district. He shared, In
pre-publicity activities, route map of folk
troupes for their performances was
prepared and daily follow up of it was
maintained. Same was the case of IEC van. Media was briefed about RRE and the
concerned activities. The team has tried to coordinate with Usmanabad and Parbhani
radio for publicity but that didnt work much, but local cable channels performed a good
role in publicizing the event.

District level organizing committee was formed which was coordinating with other
departments for pre-RRE preparations and support during RRE.
74


There were meetings and trainings at MSACS level which helped the district for getting
more clarity and for volunteers about their role.

During pre-RRE visit (just 2 days before RREs arrival), Mr. Wani reviewed the
preparations. He cross-checked the final volunteer lists, preparations of trainers, and
preparation for actual work during RRE like counselors, lab technicians etc.

Dr. Deshmukh, DPO of Latur and Mr. Bipin Borde, DS of Latur shared that they had
planned about which area/blocks of the district are to be focused considering the
specific issues and situations of the blocks. Accordingly, they planned the route of folk
troupes and IEC van. According to Mr. Borde, RRE will be useful for generalization of
HIV. It will also contribute in reducing stigma and discrimination.

Latur railway station manager shared
about the kind of preparations and
coordination he had to do for RRE.
Latur railway station is under
Solapur division. The station
manager had coordinated with
Solapur division to make
arrangements on the platform for the
train. He said, Generally the
passenger train passes through
platform no. 1. But as RRE is a
national programme, special
arrangement was done for RRE on
platform no. 1 for those 2 days of
RRE, the passenger trains will pass
through platform no. 2. We are not permitted to block this running line, but considering
the importance of RRE, we coordinated with Solapur division, collector took initiative
and we got the permission to have RRE at platform no. 1, from 10 am to 6:00 pm. So
after the RRE timing we shifted the train to other side (line no. 3), and allowed other
trains to pass and after that got it back to platform no. 1

Considering national programme, railways
has considered that people will visit the
station/train without a platform ticket.

When asked about any difficulties the
station manager faced to do all the
arrangements, he said, Agar ichcha ho, to
mushkil kuch bhi nahi hai (if there is a
will, nothing is difficult). He was very
positive about the train, he said ye to
bahut badhiya janajagriti ka karyakram
75

hain (This is an excellent programme for awareness).

He shared that RRE has visited Latur Road station before, and such initiatives are really
helpful. Such initiatives contribute in spreading information to general population. We
are happy that so many people are visiting the station and getting information about
HIV and other health aspects. I would be very positive to do the arrangements of RRE
next year also. More than 100 people work here, 50% people have surely seen the train
on first day. There are many people who have
got the testing also done, he quipped.

.






Stalls:
At the station, there were stalls of various
organizations working on the issues of HIV.
Sujit Jadhav, a counselor at community care
centre and Panduranga Hajare and Gautam
Kamble, the outreach workers told that they
are getting good response to the stall. On
first day around 900 visitors visited the stall.
There was good demand for condoms.
Because of the stall they feel, many people
will come to know about community care
centre. The centre and people accessing the
services of centre will be benefited. About
the train they felt, In the train, the visitors
will be more open to do HIV testing. They
shared that the benefits of RRE visiting
Latur can be seen after some time and not
now. They also feel that the train and the
stall will contribute in conveying
information about CCC to many people and
those who are in need can access it.

Representative of PLHIV network, Mr.
Gangadhar Kungir was there at network
stall. He felt stalls and information kiosks at
the station during RRE will help non-PLHIV
people know about the network which will be
helpful to reach out to many people with the
information about network and its
functioning.
There was also a stall of NRHM where IEC
material about various schemes and services
was provided.
Sahayog Nirmitee the organization
implementing TI projects for MSM and
FSW had a stall which was visited by around
76



Service providers at the train:

In the 6
th
coach of RRE, there was
provision for STI and HIV
counseling and testing facility. The
STI counsellor Mr. Tryambak Gavale
shared his experience of service
provision at RRE. For Mr. Gavale the
importance of RRE is spread of
information, the information not
only about HIV infection but also
about service availability and also
about various other concerned issues
and areas.

5
th
coach of the train is the coach for
training. There is proper training
hall inside the train with proper LCD
and presentation facility. There is a
team of trainers who are trained at
state level for conducting the
trainings. On the first day, 4 training batches took place which included youth, Bachat
gat members, police and sarpanchas. Rahul Doshi, ICTC counselor was one of the
trainers at training coach. According to him training at RRE is different than that at the
other places. Rahul said, Here people already see the train, get the information and
then they are attending the training. So during training they expect something which is
beyond the information that they get from the displays in the train. The presentations
for training are different for each group (e.g. for ASHAs points like how to refer a person
to ICTC, importance of institutional delivery of all pregnant women including PLHIV so
as to prevent the baby from
infection etc. are included),
there is space for question
answer session and all this
contributes a lot in the
trainings conducted. He
shared that the questions
asked during Q-A session
were like, whether such
virus can be seen among
animals also?, if the virus
goes into the body through
oral intake or swallow it,
then whether the person
gets infection? Rahul
Doshi said, Information
77

and services are reaching to many people. Many have accessed even testing facilities so
there is hope that
number of clients
accessing the
services will get
increased even after
RRE and even
through sub-
centers. Many
people didnt know
about the facilities
at sub-centre about
which they have
come to know
during RRE.

ASHA workers at
the NRHM coach
shared that they got
training about what
and how they are
supposed to explain
about the exhibit. One amongst the group said, It was a good learning for me and now I
am sure that I will take care that in my regular work, HIV component will always be
covered. She also said, Here explaining exhibit is very interesting, and the information
will be useful for people who are visiting the train.

Balaji pawar, Pramod Lomte, Amjad Pathan, Kishor Gaikwad, and Sandhya Londhe, A
group of services providers at RRE like ICTC counselors and technicians shared about
their opinion and experience of RRE, Through initiatives like the RRE, information
reaches to maximum people in a very short time. In the hospital set up or at the centers,
we give information to those who access the services, but here it reaches to masses. Here
the same information is given in very attractive way and through different medium.
Even different age groups and categories of people are also considered. They also
mentioned that because of RRE those people will also be reached who are otherwise not
very open to talk on the issues of HIV.

Folk troupe of Dhananjay Shingade
Bahuddeshiya Samaj Sanstha,
Osmanabad performed 8 shows in 2
days of RRE under the leadership of
Mr. Sagar Chavan. The troupe
members said, We are really very
satisfied by performing on such an
important health issue. It is important
that the information on HIV reaches to
new generation. This train should visit
78

the villages or as like this train there should be some other vehicle which could reach to
remote places and spread awareness.
General response from Latur:

Dildarshet Kadalwar, Balasaheb Kadalwar, Siddhnath, Vithal Shinde, and Nagnath
Jadhav work as laborers at the Railway Station Yard. They said that they liked the
exhibition, even though they knew about HIV. They are illiterate and so could not read,
but got good information on phone and volunteers explained them well about mode of
transmission, mother to child transmission, stigma and discrimination, and prevention
and care. They all did HIV testing. They said, They would inform about this train to
their friends and family.

Nagnath Jadhav from Babalgoan Station, Udgir Branch said, I wish to propose that
Railways organize HIV tests for all every three or six month. This way we could regularly
get tested.



Gagan Ladekar, District Programme Supervisor said, Information in bogie four on
NRHM needs to be updated. There needs to be some information that would tie NRHM
with HIV, so the purpose of putting these two together would be understood. He
further added that if School Health Check Up programme is conducted before arrival of
RRE, more students would understand seriousness of this exhibition and take its
advantage in large numbers.

Banate Kandgupt, ORW, said,
information is really very good, it is
useful for all age group, and
information given about mother to
child transmission is very good. One to
one information given over the phone is
a very novel concept.

Hatim Sheikh, Zaika Sheikh and other
young members of Aman Bahudishiya
Mr. Razak works as an air-
condition mechanic and has few
months left for his retirement.
He said, , I was scared of the
word AIDS, and had lot of
misconceptions but now have
got sufficient clarity to not fear
it.
79

Sanstha, said that the information presented in RRE is vivid, it is openly presented.
Hatim Sheikh said, It is nice that more and more people get informed because of such
interventions. Information is to the point, statistical data, youth section, Map,
information about mother to child transmission is good.

Aruna Hotkar, Chincholi PHC, said, Exhibition is excellent. There are so many things
one can learn from it. Anyone can understand and volunteers explain it to those who do
not understand.

Machindra Amle of IBN Lokmat, said, This sort of an exhibition is good for youth from
Latur, as there isnt any place where they could openly get this kind of information.
Maximum number of students should take advantage of this programme.

Amar Kadam, student from Shivaji Vidya Mandir, said, It is best. Information given is
practical and its audio/visual presentation is good. Youth have lots to learn from this
exhibition.

Sajankumar Lonale, Chairperson of MNS Marathwada branch said, This is very a good
exhibition. Response of people is very good and it is so because local government has got
involved and has supported central government initiative. It is a good sign. If district
level government takes interest, then such activities would never fail. Here you see
youths are visiting the exhibition in large numbers and at the same time, several labor
class people are taking advantage of free testing facility. These are good indicators that
denote the impact of RRE. Having said that, I feel this sort of information has to reach
to taluka places like Udgir, where people ignorant and where prevalence is high, it
should reach those masses. Mr. Lonale informed several of his friends about RRE.
About 18-20 of his friends visited this exhibition.

Gramin Shramik Pratishthan is
an NGO having Swadhar
residential centre where around
60 male and female visually
impaired are associated for
training and rehabilitation. The
centre provides facilities for
computer education, there are
income generating activities,
they have a troupe of performing
art. The group of 9 visually
impaired men visited RRE with 3
staff members of the
organization. They experienced
each and every exhibit, some by
touching, some by listening. They shared their experience, We are very happy about
the use of different media for imparting the information about HIV/AIDS. Because of
this we could understand many things ourselves. Of course, to know some of the
exhibits, we took help of the staff members who have accompanied us and the
80

volunteers of the exhibits. But the overall experience was very good. They shared that
they have heard many things about HIV, but they could get more information about,
1. when a person comes to know about HIV status after getting infection, 2. how and
what kind of efforts are made to prevent infection among newborn babies from
infected mother etc.

Community participation:

Representatives associated with Sangharsha Mahila Sevabhavi Sanstha, Latur, the CBO
of sex workers had come to see RRE. They said, RRE is filling up of gaps in the
information about HIV. This train in really useful for every one and should reach to
maximum people as this will surely contribute in addressing myths and misconceptions
related to HIV.

Namdev Limbagave, Lahudas Kambale, Rajkumar Somavanshi, Balaji Suryavanshi,
Antoba Saknure, Baba Sheikh, Ganesh, Sopan Vibhute, A group of MSMs from Udgir,
Devani, Latur and Nilanga who are associated with HIV intervention for last 6 years
visited RRE. They have formed their CBO in Feb 2007. Now as part of CBO work and
through the project, they try to spread awareness about HIV, and STI. They distribute
condoms and also give information about condom use, they try to clarify the doubts,
motivate their group members for HIV testing, support high risk group members for
prevention of HIV and also to address other issues, help them to access social
entitlements.

Counseling and testing:

Counselor Trimbak Gavli opined that
RRE is new concept, it generates
curiosity among people and that
draws them towards it. It helps.
Several youths come here to get their
doubts clarified. General questions
are related to modes of transmission,
mosquito bite, etc. A girl who lives in
hostel asked doubts in context to her
lesbian relationships. So this sort of
programmes help, as this girl would
not have visited civil hospital for
consultation and only god knows for
how long she would have lived under
pressure.

There was more emphasis on identifying STI infections. Out of 61 tested, 49 were found
symptomatic, and they were all referred to Government Hospitals.

Rajesh Deokar and S. I. Abande, both teachers suggested, This sort of exhibition should
reach the people living in villages. People are not aware of HIV, and there is lot of
81

misconception associated to it. If such slides and posters are exhibited in villages as a
government programme through talathi in Grampanchayat then it would make definite
impact. They further added, every person working in government offices should take
advantage of this opportunity. When asked about testing they said this facility is very
good, it is easy to access and doubts are clarified as well. When asked whether they did
the test? They were puzzled, one said yes another said No. why should we? We do not
need to do it? We are the ones who teach morality to children!

Amar Kaware, studying in third year Pharmacy said, All this information is very useful
for children of adolescent age. Information on modes of transmission, malaria, mother
to child transmission, nevarpin medicines is good. All the media used to disseminate
information are very attractive and interesting. Facility of testing is good; it would help
people to understand their status. When asked whether he got tested, he said No, I am
in rush I cannot wait, I have to catch a train.

Lakhan Bhosale and his four friends are studying in an Arts college. They learned about
RRE through Newspaper advertisement. They felt that the information given here was
sufficient enough to clear doubts. They said, This triggered several questions. We
talked about them with counselors, they answered all our queries. When asked whether
they would also go for testing? They said, No, we regularly donate blood in Civil
Hospital, and so HIV test is automatically done.

About 10-15 BCA & BBA students of Dayanand College visited RRE. They read about it
in the newspaper and decided to visit the train. About 7-8 of them conducted HIV
testing. They thought that speedy testing facility is very good. One of them said that they
had several doubts, they asked the counselor and counselor patiently answered all our
queries. When asked what they are going to do of this information, they said, We would
share it among friends and family members. We would also be careful and protect
ourselves.

A group of 35 students studying in
D. Ed College from Eklavya
Teachers College made a visit to the
RRE. The College Principal was glad
that he could get his students to see
RRE. She said, Information on good
behavior is appropriate for youth of
today. Similarly, information on
stigma and discrimination would
help students understand emotional
trauma a HIV positive person
undergoes. When a student was
asked, whether she would demand
for HIV test from her groom before
marriage, she said yes, I think I
should, but if he is not willing then
will have to convince him.
82


Engaging with Stigma and discrimination:

Students from Javalge Nurshing
School, Latur said that they only had
brief information on HIV, but have
learned a lot more today,
particularly about mother to child
transmission, nevaripin medicine,
ART, about stigma and
discrimination etc. They liked the
youth section and all the AVs. They
said they would spread this
information in villages, particularly
about mother to child transmission.
When asked how, one of 20 girls
said, We would conduct a meeting
in the village and talk about the
misconceptions related to HIV and appeal villagers to treat HIV positive people with
respect, and during polio vaccination visits inform mothers about mother to child HIV
transmission during pregnancy.

Students of Vidya Vikas School studying in 9
th
grade, liked the information. One of the
students said, Few days back, a programme was conducted related to HIV. That is
where we learnt about RRE. Misconceptions such as spread of HIV through mosquito
bites is now clarified. Similarly information related stigma and discrimination was like
an eye-opener. If we meet HIV positive person we will not mistreat him or her, but
would extend support.

Salgar G.M. a teacher by profession was tested HIV positive in a private clinic and was
recommended second line ART. She was dejected and felt hopeless. She feels that she
has no reason why she should live, she is not on ART, and she does not take medicines
as she could not digest it. She visited RRE, with a hope to get information on her
problem. She saw the exhibition and said that this information is very basic, my
problem is different. She was referred to counselors, after visiting them, she said,
talking to them helped but I do not think my problem has solved, people were waiting
to talk to her, there was queue behind me, so she was thus referred to a NGO, and
was counseled.









83





Traning:

Total 23208 visited RRE which includes school and college students and teachers,
ASHAs, ANMs, youth, women (on day one 7955 visited)
641 got HIV testing done (on day one 167 tests were done)
12 batches of training for ANMs, Sarpanchas, SHG members, Auto drivers, ASHAs,
youths and teachers total 692 people were trained.
160 people sought STI counselling.
Third year students of
Medical College
visited RRE for
training. They said
presentation is very
good. Information is
self explanatory, as
audio visual media is
used, it would help
youth and uneducated
people to remember
the information for
long time.
84


Solapur

Solapur, a textile city is located in western Maharashtra. The district is the fourth largest
in size and seventh largest in terms of population in the state. The district known for the
pilgrim centers of Pandharpur and Akkalkot lies near the borders of Andhra Pradesh
and Karnataka, and thus is known to have significant Telugu and Kannada speaking
migrant population.

Red Ribbon Express visited the city on the 21
st
of March for two days. During the two-
day halt, the otherwise busy railway station also wore a festive look, buzzing with
activities.

Inauguration:
The inaugural ceremony had
district guardian minister,
Laxman Dhobale, Mayor of
Solapur Alka Rathod, district
health authorities and other
important personalities from
the district in attendance. A
special attraction was the
presence of many of the cine
and theatre personalities
during the ceremony. Alka
Rathod speaking during the
function appealed to the
people to take this important
message across society.

Laxman Dhobale said, RRE is
a great guide for the common people in India. The health department is working hard to
save the next generation from this calamity, and to get HIV infection at zero level.
People should live with dignity and let others live with dignity as well. They should take
proper care.

According to Bhushan Gagrani, health
secretary to the government of
Maharashtra, Information dissemination
is the most effective way to confront
HIV/AIDS. Till date there is no
guaranteed solution to cure HIV. But
there is quite a big difference between the
situation of 25 years before and now. At
least basic awareness has reached masses.
There is no epidemic situation now; we
85

are successful in controlling the situation. This may be the temporary phenomenon.
Thus we should always be alert. Any kind of negligence or complacency is unaffordable.
This entire initiative thus cannot be looked at just with cost-benefit angle. RRE has
covered all the high prevalence districts. Taking the potential HIV affected individual to
the testing is a big challenge. It is important to have events like RRE, which would help
us to get this tabooed issue in the mainstream.

Marathi serial actors Akshar Kothare and Manasi Naik participated in the inaugural
ceremony. Manasi Naik said,
everything related to HIV is
covered in the train. Many times
many people want to get more
information, want to get their
doubts clarified, but feel
uncomfortable to ask about some
topics, but here in the train, there
is no need to ask anything, but
everything is explained. So
everyone should see it, especially
youth and women.

During the ceremony, powada, a
traditional song was performed
by Shahir Vijaykumar Vyawahare
and his troupe from Pandharpur.

Pre-publicity events:
District Supervisor, Mr. Sadakale shared about the preparations for RRE at district
level. He said, The first meeting took place on 30
th
January 2012.

Mr. Sadakale shared that he had experience of RRE. It had come to Solapur in 2008 and
had halted on 3 stations, 2 days each at Kurduwadi, Pandharpur and Solapur. Because
of this experience, Mr. Sadakale could contribute in preparing plan of RRE during the
meeting on 30
th
January and after that the preparations at district levels (for other
districts also) started.

In Solapur district DAPCU
coordinated with Zilla Parishad,
Collector Office, and other
departments like police, social
welfare, education etc. The meetings
were conducted with these
departments where they were briefed
about RRE and how each department
can contribute. District collector took
the lead role. Financial support was
needed for various things. Direct
86

financial support was not possible but people/organizations tried for support in kind.
Civil hospital and other departments supported for providing biscuits to the visitors of
RRE. Even pandal makers supported by putting up the stage for inauguration
programme and stalls in concessional rates. Banners also were printed in concessional
rates.

For proper coordination with other
departments, letters were sent to
every department. Efforts were made
to fill up the gaps which they thought
were during last RRE. The teams
were made and given responsibilities
of preparatory work and regular
follow up of work was focused on.
The situation of the district was
considered while planning the
activities e.g. its examination time.
Considering this, planning for IEC
van, newspaper advertisements etc.
was planned. They also prepared a format to keep a track of planning and execution of
pre-publicity activities.

3 days prior to RRE, pre-publicity work was reviewed and accordingly responsibilities
were assigned to people.

For controlling the crowd, support from the railway police was sought. Elections of
Panchayat Samitee on first day of RRE affected on the response and coordination on day
one, but second day, there was a good response.

To handle the crowed inside
the train, responsibility was
give to ICTC counselors,
technicians and NGO
representatives. College
students were also considered
for controlling the crowd but
due to their exams, response
of college students was not as
expected.

Importance of RRE according
to Mr. Sadakale is, The
information reaches to people
through different ways than
otherwise. Previous
experience says during post-
87

publicity activities people share about getting new information and different experiences
and even response to HIV testing will increase.
Around 125 people including Volunteers and staff (NRHM staff and NGO
representatives) were involved in actual train activities.

Three folk groups were involved in pre-publicity and they did around 24 performances
per day, which was double than what was thought. That helped a lot in publicity and
mobilizing people.

Station Manager at Solapur railway station, Mr. Narayanan shared about the
preparations they did for RRE.

In coordination with Senior Divisional Manager, it was decided to allot platform No. 5
for RRE. Facilities of light, water and toilet were very important to be available on that
platform. Mr. Narayanan said, All these facilities were already there, but we cross-
checked again for extra supply, we made it sure that undisturbed water supply is
available on platform no. 5, extra manpower is available there for maintaining
cleanliness. Our staff supported us, they worked extra hours.

Approximately 80 trains pass the
station everyday. For RRE some of the
trains were temporarily routed through
other tracks and some were kept aside.

Altogether the staff on the railway
station is more than 1000. The station
manager has specially informed all the
staff members to visit the train with
their family members.

88

Athang Kalakaushalya Manch, Solapur is troupe of young college students. To sensitize
and create awareness in people, the troupe was busy performing street plays, where the
main focus was on ICTC, modes of HIV transmission and appealing to people to visit the
RRE. 42 plays were already performed till the time express chugged into Solapur, and
they had 104 more shows in the fray.

Stall at the station:

Paramprasad is the organisation implementing Link workers scheme at Solapur
and had their stall at platform. Around 4000 people must have visited the stall during
the RREs halt. Swati Keskar and
Seema Dixit, the representatives
of the organization, who were at
the stall shared, generally
adolescents who are visiting the
train and stalls have many
doubts, which they ask and also
take IEC material. Youths are
asking more about condoms, are
interested in seeing condom
demonstration also. Police etc.
were more interested in knowing
the Link worker scheme and how
the work is going on. For the
stall, IEC material has been
provided by AVERT, and the
condoms are through DAPCU. Swati and Seema also shared that they have helped
DAPCU for publicity in 100 villages where they work through Link worker scheme and
they also have conveyed the information through their link workers. 30-40 street plays
have taken place at the villages where they work and even IEC van had visited most of
the places.

Niramay Aarogyadham is the
organization implementing
targeted intervention with MSMs
and FSWs in Solapur. Kranti and
Dostana are the CBOs of FSWs
and MSM supported by Niiramay.
All 3 organizations had a stall
which was visited by many
people. There was IEC material,
and condoms were distributed.
Condom demonstration was done
by MSM and FSW peer educators.
They did social marketing of
female condoms also. They
distributed more than 2000 male
89

condoms free of cost and did social marketing of more than 225 female condoms. The
FSW peer educator who was at the stall told that they are getting good response of the
visitors. She said, Many times sex workers say that all the information is given to them,
they are always focused by the programme, but this initiative/RRE is for all. And those
sex workers who are visiting here are realizing that.

PLHIV network and Prayas jointly had a stall at Platform during RRE. The
volunteers at the stall shared that more than 400 people visited the stall in a day. They
distributed lot of IEC material to the visitors. Visitors have asked about their doubts and
also have tried to seek more information. After reading the material there were
questions about vaccine and medicine for cure.

NRHM stall had displays about general health, maternal health, etc. They had displays
of the posters on girl child also.
They shared that more than 700
visitors visited the stall.

One of the stalls was devoted
for Blood Donation. A team
under the leadership of Dr.
Deshpande from Solapur civil
hospital blood bank was present
for blood collection. At the stall
information about blood
donation was displayed. IEC
material was available which
was distributed to the visitors.
Visitors on day 1 were
approximately 400 plus and 18
donated the blood.

Volunteers and service providers

The volunteer at the exhibit of HIV
information shared that many
visitors are seeing the exhibits very
seriously. The questions asked
were, what does window period
mean? what is the possibility of
transmission of virus through
saliva? The questions of youths
were like, what is the relation
between addiction and HIV?, does
alcoholism increase the risk of HIV
infection?
The volunteer explaining the exhibit
of ART shared, There is good
90

response of the people to this train. They are interested in knowing more information
about medication on HIV. She also shared that there was one challenging question
which was asked to her. One of the visitors asked her when or which are the acts because
of which viral load increases? She could tell about unprotected sexual act with another
HIV positive person. But she told the visitor that she will get more information about it
and then let him know the next day or can accompany the visitor to meet the doctor in
some time or the visitor can meet the doctor at service coach (coach no.6 where testing
and other services are provided).




Lakhan, a driver and Jeevan Londhe, NGO representative were jointly fulfilling their
responsibility of travelling with IEC van. The team of two did announcement of RRE
and distributed IEC material. Lakhan shared, When Jeevan makes the announcement
about RRE, I make it sure to give the pamphlets to the people and tell them to listen to
the announcement. I make it sure to meet the youth and handout the material which we
carry in the van. We are getting good response, nobody has yet thrown the leaflets or
material (at least till the time we are at that particular spot). People read the material
given to them and sometimes even ask some questions to Jeevan Sir.

During two days of RRE, 20 performances of street plays took place at various spots in
the city and surroundings. Around 11,576 people witnessed the play.

General Response in Solapur:

There were continuously loud
announcements regarding RRE and
appeal was made to people to visit
the train. The music of bigul was
clearly marking the difference
between the routine announcements
of the arrival and departures of the
trains and the arrival of the RRE.
The ICTC van was parked outside
the station for two days.
The volunteer at condom vending
machine shared, Youths and
college students are more curious
about the vending machine.
Overall people are of the attitude,
why to purchase it when its
available free of cost on the
stalls.
91

What was remarkable was the visit of laborers, of those who load and unload the cement
sacks near the railway station, young boys in the age group of 19-20 who sell lassi, water
bottles, and cold drinks. This was clearly due to positive word of mouth that was
spreading around. It was an indication of the impact of RREs arrival that created the
curiosity among the youths.

The station and its proximity
wore a festive look during the
event. People from different
walks and sections of life
thronged to see the train and
the stalls put up by NGOs on
the platform and in the
vicinity of the station
premises. NCC cadets, college
students, students from
medical and nursing colleges,
anganwadi workers, workers
from ASHA and female sex
workers along with the
general population took
benefit of this opportunity of
RREs visit to their city.

Tulsidas, a worker in an industry had gone to get his wife operated keeping in mind
family planning, where he heard about RRE, and made it a point to visit it. He said, The
information delivered on the telephone was most usefully done.

Students studying in 11
th
grade were deputed as volunteers by their teachers, and they
seemed to enjoy the experience of learning. They were quite excited to have seen for the
first time a condom vending machine.

Salman and Suraj studying in Haribhai Devkaran College are members of their colleges
NCC unit. They were advised by their
teachers to pay a visit to RRE. Salman
said, We are very happy about the
detailed information that we have got
on board the RRE. I was quite
relieved, when I was told that HIV
testing could be done in a nearby
government hospital, and a proper
nutritious diet and prescribed
medication in addition to regular
exercises would help a patient lead a
normal life like any other human
being.

92

A group of 30 nursing students liked the quiz game on RRE. Though they had known
about HIV, their knowledge was quite basic before coming to see the RRE, after which,
they were thoroughly satisfied by the detailed information.

Vishawas, Sidharth and Vilas were engineering students. They found this information
very vital. They came twice, and on the second day brought along some 15 friends. The
information about the DOTs method for TB, free services in government hospitals,
female condoms is new for them. Siddharth said, AIDS is due to multiple sexual
partners/relationships was a deeply rooted myth in our mind, which got cleared. We
cannot ask our doubts to our professors because we know each other, but here all these
people are unknown to us, thus we can freely ask questions and get our doubts cleared.
RRE is a very important medium for public awareness.

Trupti Shinde, Medical student read the
news in the newspaper. She was well
aware about the issue and information,
but was nevertheless curious about the
ways used in RRE to give information.
What she liked the most was the
information given freely in the mixed
group of men-and women. And that
nobody felt ashamed of. She said, It is
very important to give this information
to both girls and boys together. Visit to
RRE was an exciting experience for her.
Shivprasad Tiwari and his friends are
farmers who traveled 20 kms after
being a part of a programme held in their village that communicated the RRE presence
in the city. Shivprasad said, For the well being of our lives, everyone should come and
see the exhibition.

Shabana, a 36-year old resident of Pune had come to
visit her mother with her 20-year old married
daughter. She was watching the play with a lot of
interest, and on being asked about the play was quite
shy to begin with. Later, she opened up and said, I
had no knowledge about HIV before I saw the play.
But, now I know what this means, what are its modes
of transmission, and how to treat people who are
infected with it.

Jamir, a 20-year old lassi seller at the station said, I
do understand what the message is on RRE. The only
problem is I cannot talk freely about it. There is
hesitation in me in talking about it, since I feel the
information is for husband and wife.

93

The same Jamir later came on his own and said, I am open to talk on it and have
brought in my friends to visit the RRE.

Raju, an architect did not have much time, but nevertheless talked on the importance of
sex education. He said, Adolescents do not seem to know much about sexuality. Only if
there is a healthy relationship between parents and children, could there be a possibility
of a healthy dialogue. Since, in majority of the cases, this does not seem to happen, RRE
exhibition is a giant step in the right direction.

For Prashant Mhaske and Nawale working as keepers in parking lot, the visit was an
eye-opener. Prashant said, I had a lot of misconceptions about HIV like it spreading
through sharing food in plate
of a patient. This has been
dethroned and I am quite glad
to know this. Moreover,
exercising caution is the best
way to keep the deadly virus
at bay, and I would definitely
keep this in mind.

Rajkumar sells Nira (a local
cool drink) for his living. He
came to visit the RRE in the
company of his uncle. He was
persuaded by his wife who
works with Asha, and has
been persistently telling him
to visit and gather
information. He said, I am greatly benefited by this visit.

Prakash Mandekar was insisting on the need of dissemination of this information to the
people in the zopadpatti
(slums). He said, The need is
more there and those people will
not come here to seek
information.

The similar concern about
village people was expressed by
Boramanis sarpanch Anilkumar
Nanaware. 50 people all men,
from their village came to visit
the RRE.

Geeta Kulkarni works as a
volunteer at the ART centre. She
had a rich experience to share
94

and gave ample credit to people to ask queries which normally they would not ask. She
was quite satisfied with the questions and did her best to clarify doubts in the mind of
many. She said, People asked questions like I am HIV negative, but have very low
immunity; can ART be useful to improve my immunity?, Does ART work to prevent
AIDS?, What is a connection between HIV and paralysis? What are the side effects of the
ART? Very thought provoking questions indeed and I am happy to have answered them
satisfactorily. I am quite impressed by the enthusiasm shown by the people in Solapur.

Awareness is the need of the
hour, since a lot of
misconception about
HIV/AIDS could plague the
awareness program.
Arguments abound in cases of
misconceptions, such as AIDS
could be caused by consuming
chicken or non-vegetarian
dishes, and such vacuous
claims are made significantly
potent by pointing out to such
reports as printed in media.

According to Mr. Narayanan,
station master,
Approximately 25 to 30
thousand passengers come to
the railway station every day. Many passengers commuting from the railway station
took benefit of the street-plays performed at the station and also at nearby spots. He
further added, There are many benefits of this train, but I think the train is very
important because it is a very good way of imparting information for all including highly
educated, just literate and even illiterate people. So everyone is benefited.

Community presence:

Girish Suryavanshi and
Nagesh Dhage,
representatives from MSM
community, who are
associated with Dostana, CBO
of MSM visited RRE. They
had some information about
HIV which was revised and
could get some new
information also like
Paediatric ART, treatment
protocol for PPTCT. They
liked the audio-visuals
95

displayed in the train, and liked the idea of taking oath for de-addiction a lot. They
shared, Even though RRE is not focusing any specific community, it is going to be
helpful for MSM community as, there are some community members who are not yet
associated with the CBO, and are reluctant to come to office. But they also visited RRE.
There are partners of MSM, who dont like to come to office, but they also came to see
RRE.

Lalbee Patel, Kavita Jadhav, Mahananda Thite, Sujata Shinde, Anita, Savita, Preeti,
Lalita are sex workers, associated with Kranti CBO. They shared, We always see that
whenever there is issue of HIV, we (sex workers) are always focused or targeted. But
now with this initiative, we came to know about the efforts with general population for
HIV. They shared that, Details of what all is to be done after getting HIV infection was
the new learning for us. The group told that they have told about RRE and visiting it to
other sex workers, stakeholders, lodge owners, partners and also some of the auto
drivers. And they expect these people to visit RRE.

One of the sex workers shared, We could have saved my partner, if ART would have
been introduced before.

Chandani Sheikh, Rani Gaikwad and Anjali are also sex workers associated with
Niramay Arogyadham, NGO implementing TI with FSWs in Solapur district. For them
condom vending machine seen in RRE was new. They also said, Condom vending
machine should be placed on all the railway stations and other similar places, so as to
make it easy access for those who need it and at the time of need.

Engaging with Stigma and Discrimination:

A man aged 35-years
had a very serious
query. He talked about
the ill treatment meted
to PLHIV in the family,
and wanted to know, if
there were any means
on board, where he
could get to know
about ways to tackle
and stop stigma and
discrimination against
PLHIVs. All he wanted
was humane treatment
given to patients, and
was advised to get the
members to visit the RRE, and thereafter take them to counselors on board.

According to students of Athang Kalakaushalya Manch, the audience at many places
after the performance approached them complaining about the behavioral treatment
96

PLHIVs get at the ART centre. They talked about gross negligence and ill-treatment
from health officials. Members of the Manch were in opposition to answer their doubts,
but what surprised them was the ignorance of ICTCs these members of the audience
possessed.

R. Patil is a government servant. He came to know about RRE through the newspaper
and therefore came to see it. After visiting RRE, he was looking at the material
displayed in the stalls. When asked about his experience, he started the conversation
without any hesitation.
I am positive. If I would
have known this earlier,
I would not have got
infected. My wife died of
kidney failure 5 years
back. She was negative.
We were taking all the
precautions. I have a son
in 12
th
standard and a
daughter, studying
engineering in Pune. I
am taking a treatment of
a well-known doctor
from Pune. I take my
medicine regularly, eat
well, nutritious diet and
do regular exercise. I feel
very lonely now. Want to
have a companion. I came here with the hope that I will get some information regarding
remarriage.

Testing:

Akshar Kothare, Marathi serial
actor underwent testing. He said,
Everyone is at risk of HIV, and
everyone should know his/her
status. It includes me also. So I
decided to get the testing done.
He also said, Health is really
very important. And if one is
healthy, only then can one be
wealthy. But we never give due
importance to health and being
healthy. We always greet people
or wish each other on birth days,
anniversaries etc., but we never
wish people for their health.
97

Hence forth I would like to greet people saying Happy health.

Rajkumar, the Nira seller was quite sure of his conduct and this self confidence led him
to refuse testing. Similar sentiments were shown by many of the visitors.

A total of 1055 people underwent counseling and 1001 of them took an HIV test.

Training:

The training team was led by
Purshottam Kadam, counselor at
the ICTC in Pandharpur.

College students, mixed group of
young people, government
officers and employees, police,
ASHA, ANMs, GNMs, panchayat
members, tahasildars and link
workers participated in the
training. ASHAs response was
encouraging. Police asked
questions about handling
accident cases if there is blood
and wounds. They were told
about the safe measures involving hand gloves to be made a compulsory part of first aid
box.

One girl said she is engaged to be married soon. She asked, How can I motivate my
would-be husband for HIV testing? There were questions on oral sex and MSMs.

The content of the training, the presentation was mainly based on power point slides,
which is more or less same for all groups. Suggestions regarding the requirement of
groups to be considered for a specific sort of training were positively taken by the
training team. If such were implemented, training sessions would become more
interesting and useful.






98

Suggestions and feedback:













































The counselor was quite concerned about taking oath of
responsible behaviour by putting hand on the screen. Even if it
was a good idea, it was lacking seriousness, and thus becoming
meaningless. Similar was the case with condom demonstration,
which required some seriousness on part of the onlookers.

The counselor obviously was praise for the effort of RRE in
reaching out to millions in its campaign to create a secure
world. She commented, RRE is a good event and is planned
innovatively. It has provided a chance for the general public to
clear their doubts. I am sure that there is an attitude change
towards HIV, people living with HIV and a serious thought to
considering HIV testing as a viable option in future.

Other suggestions and observation in Solapur were,

The statistics is difficult to understand for a lay person. It should
be explained properly. Otherwise they become numbers only and
the meaning is lost in transit.

Language used must be simple and self-explanatory. eg.
Prevalence of HIV, what does it mean?

The trainer was using English words many times which were
difficult to understand.

Pre-test and post-test counseling should have been done more
properly.

The volunteers were enthusiastic, active, tirelessly taking efforts
to reach people.

The same pamphlets/leaflets were distributed from all the stalls.
People were just collecting them. Ideally people should read
them, should ask questions, and should clear their doubts. This
process was absent. It was just adding to the waste.

Planning and scheduling of visits of different schools and
colleges should be done. Mobilization like this can be helpful to
reach out more effectively.

Overall, response was good. The percentage of men visitors was
remarkably higher than the women visitors. The women who
came to visit RRE mostly came in a group and were members of
some groups like nursing students, SHG members, sex workers
etc. Individual women visitors were very few.

99

In two days of RRE in Solapur

Total 33,586 people visited RRE which includes school and college students, ASHAs,
ANMs, youth, and women.
1001 got HIV testing done (on day one 347 tests were done)
12 batches of training for ANMs, Sarpanchas, SHG members, Auto drivers, ASHAs,
youths and teachers total 686 people were trained. (on day one in 4 batches 204 were
trained)
1055 people sought STI counselling (on day one 348 people counselled on STI)
In two days 47 units blood was collected at the stall of blood bank.

100


Pune


Pune is the eighth largest city in the country and the second largest in the state of
Maharashtra. Referred to as Oxford of the East due to a plethora of educational
institutions, cultural capital of the state, it is fast growing metropolitan city with a
population of close to 5.5 million including the twin townships of Pimpri-Chinchwad.
With major national and state highways criss-crossing the district, it also plays host to
the floating population that visits the city.

According to Sandeep Dhawale, District Programme Officer of the DAPCU, the
population density is also very high. And considering the size of the district, HIV
awareness programmes and service availability is a constant challenge. Hence the RRE
is a significant event as in a short span of time, the effort is to reach out to many
thousands and maximize the impact.

RRE came to Pune on the 23
rd
and 24
th
of March, and was stationed at the Khadki
Railway Station. Khadki is a cantonment area in suburban Pune housing some of the
premier defense institutions in the country and ordnance factories. Since Khadki is
outside the Pune city limits, inaccessibility factor came into being. This was probably the
reason why the response in Pune was quite lukewarm as compared to what had been
anticipated. Moreover, the chugging in of the train coincided with Marathi New Year
101

making it all the more inconvenient for people to come and visit the train. But, the
response did get better with time.


Planning and pre publicity:

Sandeep Dhawale and his team started work on the RRE in the month of February itself.
What helped us in doing all the preparations was the formation of the District
Organising Committee. We had our first meeting on February 27
th
wherein major roles
and responsibilities were demarcated and allotted. Since then people have been on their
toes. Around 40 volunteers drawn from NGOs, NRHM, RCH and ICTC were trained for
the event on 1
st
March 2012. Pre publicity was done with the help of two folk troupes
that visited 52 villages for a fortnight or so and used traditional and folk media forms to
spread information on HIV and motivate them to come to the RRE. A mobile IEC van
toured city colleges for 6 days, held quiz competitions on HIV and engaged the youth.
We have tried to reach out to 6000 students from 26 colleges in the city, stated
Sandeep adding that the event will surely benefit students and migrants who are likely
to come in more numbers.

Inauguration

The RRE was inaugurated by collector of Pune Vikas Deshmukh. Distribution of
pamphlets in localities near the station helped to draw some audience. Series of
performances by Pune-based magician Vijay also attracted some audience.

At the inaugural event today,
Pune District Collector,
Vikas Deshmukh, exhorted
everyone to visit the train
and get educated on HIV. He
opined that the exhibition is
an opportunity for Pune cites
to strengthen their resolve to
get informed on HIV and
collectively fight the stigma
around it. Clearly the
stigma around HIV, and
discrimination with those
affected by it, impede the
effectiveness of all HIV
prevention and care efforts.
We want everyone to get engaged with and understand that coming together and
responding collectively to address the stigma is the need of the hour, he said.

HIV is an issue which affects each one of us equally stated Pune District Civil Surgeon,
Dr Vinayak Mule adding that the RRE is a strong reminder of the fact that it is high
time that all of us understood our vulnerability to HIV and took necessary steps to get
102

well informed and avail HIV and other associated health services, he stated. Citing the
RRE train as a unifying force, he exhorted everyone to visit the RRE and become part
of the HIV movement.
With Multi Drug Resistant TB (MDR TB) cases rising in Pune, initiatives like RRE serve
as a crucial platform for people to come and avail complete information on critical
health issues such as Tuberculosis, stated Dr Shobha Rajure, District TB Officer. With
many people dropping out of the treatment regimen, very soon MDR TB could lead to
extensively-drug resistant tuberculosis (XDR) and this poses a bigger threat to nations
healthcare system, informed Dr Rajure adding that it is equally important for visitors to
also visit the NGO stalls put up on the platform and giving information on vital health
issues.

General response from Pune

A batch of ANMs from Nasik visited the RRE. They were undergoing a month-long
training at the Yerawada Mental Hospital. Sunita, Sumitra, Kalpana and Asha were
eager to see the demonstration of female condoms, about which they had only heard,
and got the opportunity to see it for the first time. Sunita was inquisitive and asked, Are
there any side-effects of using a female condom? and what about the pain factor in using
them? they were satisfied with the demonstration and the answers given to their
Stalls:

Lahu Pawar, Gorakh Shinde and Vaishali Mane were three volunteers on
NPP+ stall. Along with brochures, leaflets and other such printed material
they had also placed a condom box on the table. Peoples response to condom
box is an indication of their awareness and interest, said Gorakh. For
instance, if they ask directly about the condom that indicates reasonable level
of awareness and we distribute it to them. Some people take other material
and look at the box in anticipation but do not ask anything. Sensing their
interest to know we take initiative to explain them importance of condom and
how to use it properly, he added.

CASP is working in over 100 villages in Maval area for HIV awareness through
various programmes such as link workers schemes, positive peoples group
and care for children.

HHL Life Care representative Sayyad was along with the train from Nagpur
with a stall on condom education. Sayyad said, Apart from a group of nursing
college students, no women or girls have visited the stall. It attracts mostly
young boys and men. Some are interested and listen to information, observe
demo and buy condoms. With experience I have learned to differentiate
between genuine visitors and those who drop in for the sake of fun.

103

queries. They even purchased some female condoms. Other students were very curious
to know about HIV, and they found the telephonic manner of information delivery very
interesting. These students were hooked on to charts and posters, and found them
highly informational. Like their counterparts, they knew about HIV beforehand, but
were excited to see the way information was displayed. For Priya, this information was
useful for children going to school. She said, These children feel ashamed to ask about
sex, and thus RRE gives them the best possible platform to talk and learn more about
it.

Vikas Rajput is aware of RRE since long but had never got a chance to visit here, due to
his shift duties. He was married four months ago and his wife, who works in police
department in Solapur, was deputed on duty while RRE was in Solapur. The couple had
talked about the train and Vikas told his wife not just to be there on duty but to have a
look at the exhibits. After his wife watched the display she was impressed with the
content. Later Vikas visited the train in Pune. He saw the exhibition and also attended
the training. His initiative is worth appreciating. I was not completely unaware about
HIV. But here I got in-depth and clear information.

I realized difference between HIV and AIDS. He further admitted, All information
over here is significant for people like me who are newly married and staying separately
for work reasons. I am happy that I could make it this time.

104

Sachin Deole was in the queue for testing. He was encouraged to go for testing after
reading about RRE in the local daily.

Ms. Joglekar, a teacher in Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth came with 40 students
studying nursing and ANMs. She was thrilled by the way information was given. She
said, This is a very sensitive subject and quite a taboo to talk about. But RRE gives this
important information in simple language and in attractive manner. I came to know
about RRE through my friend who works in Aundh Government hospital. Now I am
calling many of my friends, colleagues to tell about RRE. People do not know about
RRE.

Pratibha, Richal, Amay and Indrajit are the second year medical students from Tilak
Ayurvedic College. They are associated with Nehru Yuva Kendra. They liked the idea of
giving information through telephone, Quiz etc. They strongly felt that this should go to
as many people as possible, especially to the villages. Amay said, The RRE should halt
at many stations. Instead of Khadki, it should be halted to Hadapasar, since many trains
pass on that route and it is nearer to the city centre. They were emphasizing it again
and again.

Swati Thosar works
in the nursing
department in a
cantonment
hospital. She came
to know about RRE
through the banners
and posters. She was
impressed by the
information and
methods used. Swati
said, Information
through telephone
has a personal
touch. It makes a
lasting impression.
Even the tele-films
are good. This
information must
reach youths, the men who stay away from their families. HIV positive means
immediate death is the strong equation in peoples mind. This information helps to
break this myth. Once you are equipped with proper information there remains less
possibility of wrong behaviour. The Information always plays an important role.

Kishore is studying for his Masters in Science. What he appreciated most was that he
could ask frank questions without any fears and tension.

105

Nandlal Kalekar came from a village 45 kms away from Pune. When the RRE came to
Mumbai, the news was shown on television in which the further schedule of the RRE
was declared. He remembered the Pune dates and came accordingly. He stressed on the
need of mobilization and a good coverage in the media. He said, Why is it lacking?
Collector should have sent letters to schools, colleges, organizations to visit the RRE.
The government is spending so much money on this event and hence it should reach as
many people as possible. Creating the required atmosphere is very important. Why is it
not done? The news should have come on the front page of all the news papers. But
media coverage is very weak. Everyone has a cell phone today. The cell companies
should have sent messages regarding RRE. These companies should bear the cost. The
need of information dissemination on the priority basis and on huge scale would help to
control the widely spreading HIV.

Vijay and Sanjay work with a local hospital and they are involved with conducting HIV
testing on a community level. They said in unison, People do not know about RRE.
Media should play a much more active role, and in this way, it would help us to reach
out to people more effectively.

Mr. Monghal drives an auto rickshaw for his living. He read about the RRE in a local
newspaper. He was keen to see the RRE. He got new information about HIV/AIDS. He
said, I feel it is important to have a sexual relationship only with one partner and thus
protect oneself from HIV infection.

Engaging with Stigma and discrimination:

Kishore, who is studying
for his Masters degree in
Science said, After
visiting the RRE, I am
sure that I will not
discriminate against any
HIV positive person. The
discriminatory attitude
towards a patient makes
his life more miserable
and vulnerable.

Pradeep, a Class IX
student in a school in
Range Hills, said, I have
never ever got the
information on HIV the
way it is neatly explained
over here. Rather nobody talks about it and we have no one to approach for our doubts.
Because of secrecy around HIV, people with infection are treated badly. In fact, earlier I
also feared going close to such people in our community. But now I feel it is not a right
thing to do.
106


There was a prominent presence of women from Mahila Kalyan Kendra, a local NGO
which runs 56 SHGs, pre-primary schools, vocational training centers and courses etc.
Sanjeevani Chavhan is a senior worker associated with the NGO. She said, Although we
already have some information, getting information through these different media is
important. Because of our work and influence, HIV positive people are not getting a bad
treatment from their family members.

Some responses indicated acceptance and a gradual process of normalizing HIV. It
indicated that people are moving beyond the threat perception and are also supportive
to PLHIV.

A group of 135 young girls and boys, mostly from lower and middle class from Bhosari,
Nigdi, Hadapsar and Aalandi, associated with Black Cobra Commandos had come to
visit the train. BCC provides physical training on lines with military training to boys and
girls, from Class 9 to College going. Two girls studying in Class XII were willing to talk.
One of them said that she is aware of HIV and know how people with HIV are treated in
our society. My uncle was HIV positive, his wife and two children too were positive. All
have died except their youngest child who is on medication. I was very young when all
this happened in our family, but I remember relatives were unwilling to keep contact
with my uncle and his family. The girls felt that his uncle did not tell anyone about his
infection, even to his would be wife and hence the family suffered badly. Both felt it is
important to be wary of infection at the time of fixing marriage. When asked whether
they would insist for HIV testing at the time of their own marriages both responded
affirmatively. Now that we are well informed we would definitely explain importance of
HIV test prior to marriage to our parents.

They added, Since positive people are treated
badly, most are secretive about their status. This
mindset should change, voiced the young girls.
Isnt their a total cure? asked one of them the
oft repeated question by visitors. It is painful to
know that even the new born can acquire it from
their mothers. We did not know it till we saw the
panels in the exhibition. Good that medicine is
available to protect the babies.

A young boy and girl in the counseling
compartment were waiting for their reports. The
boy was delighted after he received his report.
He admitted that he was experiencing tension,
but was keen to go for the test. Exhibition has
given me clarity. I realized that even HIV
infected people have rights and they should not be isolated. When asked whether he
would hesitate to work with an infected person, he said, I feel, I would have no problem
in working with infected person, or to employ any of them in my office and home. I
think, they should follow basic precautionary measures and that should be all.
107

Vilas is a PLHIV staying in Takalwadi village near Aale Phata in Junnar block. Vilas was
constantly on phone telling his acquaintances to visit the train. His passion was evident
from his conversation with his friends. Self-motivated Vilas shared his life story. He
said, I realized I am positive 15 years ago and I am on ART for last two years. After
realizing my status I immediately
got my wife and children (two
daughters) tested. Wife was
positive but the daughters were
safe. Thinking that wife will be
unnecessarily shocked I did not tell
her about her infection for over
next ten years, but exercised all
precautions to keep us healthy. I
got to know about government
schemes for PLHIVs, such as BPL
card and monthly pension, which I
have accessed for both of us. I have
helped a lot of people to get benefit
as well. I have helped a lot of
people to get ART and motivated
them for its adherence. Talking
about RRE he said, The
government is doing so much, have
so many services for positive
people like BPL card and medication, but people either do not care or are not aware.
Therefore this train is a good attempt to spread awareness. He was not happy with the
way the information was being imparted in the exhibition compartments. People are
moving from poster to poster in a rush, without getting time to grasp its content. It is
like visiting a temple in rush hours when people only get to see a glimpse of god. I have a
suggestion, they should send a limited number of people in group in batches, so that
messages reach properly.

Sangita Rokade is a link worker from Rajuri in Junnar block. She lost her husband, who
ended his life when his health deteriorated. After visiting the exhibition I realized that
the infection is quite widespread. The map shows lot of red areas indicating high
prevalence in many parts of the country. I am pleased that as a link worker I am at least
helpful to save a couple of families in my work area, she said.

The total crowd that visited on 23 & 24 March the RRE here was close to 22,872

Counseling and Testing:

Swati Shelar, ICTC lab technician, was taking the written feedback from all the visitors.
She was distributing the leaflets and guiding the people towards testing. She advised
people to go for testing, since it is free and confidential.

108

Lalita, who works as a link worker was accompanied by a 19-year old boy from her
village. He dropped out of schooln after 7
th
grade. For him all the information was new.
What he learnt was that condom should be used in a sexual intercourse. He voluntarily
went for testing on board. On being asked if he carried any inhibitions, he unhesitatingly
said, No, I have full confidence about myself. Lalita praised him for getting tested. She
said, It is really creditable since, both his mother and father are HIV positive. He is
experiencing it closely.

Mr. Kamble liked the RRE
very much. He came twice
with his wife and said that
he would come again along
with his children and
neighbors. He stressed,
The need that to have
HIV testing done before
marriage is as important
as seeing birth horoscopes
for matching alliances.

Mr. Sagvekar is of the
same opinion. To spread
this message of voluntarily
HIV testing before
marriage he has formed a
foundation, through which
he contacts marriage bureaus, and attends their gatherings. He said, Initially, people
were not ready to listen, but now there is a little change in peoples attitude. The
bureaus invite me to talk about it.

Udaan is a group working with the men having sex with men (MSMs). Many young
members came for testing. One member was keeping the record by writing down the
test results. Bharat, a senior social worker said, The number of MSMs is quite high.
Udaan works with them in different areas and communities. He emphasized that the
issues of MSMs should have also found a place in the exhibit. He regretted that RRE did
not consider MSMs. Last time they gave this feedback, but in vain. Bharat said, Overall
information given in the RRE is okay. But how could MSMs relate with this information
unless you take their cognizance? There should be at least one poster about them.

Gautam Narnavare is a Counselor with NPP+ and was also with RRE counselor team.
He said, RRE test lab has advanced equipment that gives quick reports, which gives a
motivation for testing. People feel that if we are getting results immediately, why not go
for it?

Ravindra Dabake, Counselor with ICTC in BJ Medical College said, I have counseled 37
people since morning. It was a mixed age group. Here we get little time to interact. But
the process is very well conceived. People get mentally prepared for counseling and
109

testing through exhibition and training and therefore quality output is possible even
though we have limited time with everyone. As a result of their willingness I have
identified 9 people with high risk tendencies in small time span.

Mr. Dhotre, a 65-year old person retired from Ammunition Factory who had come after
reading about RRE in newspapers. He was eager to talk his experiences. He was a bit
restless from what he must have gone through, as happens to most people in testing
ordeal. He said, Due to his travelling job and illness of his wife 25 years ago, he had
relations outside marriage and therefore he was worried about any possible infection. I
have seen HIV infected people, there were some workers with me, who had bad habits.
Then there were some families back in my village, who spent horrible lives. He further
said, Mostly people get nervous at the very thought of HIV. From whatever information
they have they fear that they have been infected, he said, perhaps he was himself
experiencing it. Coming here I realized that one need not keep worrying and should get
tested first. My report is clear and that relives burden on my head. He said that RRE is
a good initiative, so I asked him whether he would tell others to visit the train, he was a
bit hesitant. If I tell people there is train on AIDS awareness, instead of showing
interest in it they will look at me with suspicious mind. They would feel that my
behaviour is incorrect. So I may not tell anyone. And will not show this test result to
anyone. This word (he pointed at the AIDS in the report paper title) is very scary to
people.

Around 482 got counseled and 470 got tested for HIV.

Training:

Many women belonging to
different SHGs came to visit the
RRE. They traveled close to two
hours to see the exhibition, and
were quite satisfied with what
they learned.

In the training, more or less the
same information was given
which was already part of RRE
exhibition. Lalita was a link
worker. She found the training
useful. She said, There should
not be any mistake while
working in the field. I found the
information related to STDs
very important. I would use this
information to the best of my capacity, since in the rural areas, the percentage of the
STDs is quite high.

110

Talking about training sessions Amita, ORW with Soudamini and trainer said, Training
content is similar for most groups. But after giving the common minimum basic
information we make sure to discuss group specific issues. For instance, today we had
training with women police trainees. There was discussion on treatment meted out to
women sex workers by the police and need for a better approach. We explained that
problem is not going to stop by thrashing the sex workers. Such group specific
interactions are important part of the training.

According to Mr. Jadhav, a trainer assigned to train groups of people on board, The
purpose of the training is to give information about the RRE project to the ANMs,
ASHAs, Doctors, SHG members etc. An interactive session took place with the youths.
A total of 734 were trained on 23 & 24 March both days of the RREs stay in Pune.











111

Sangli district (Miraj and Sangli)

Sangli:

Sangli is the headquarters of Sangli district. The place with a population of close to 1
million is noted for education, sugar industries and vineyards. Sangli also boasts of
Asias largest turmeric market.

Red Ribbon Express visited Sangli for the first time this year on the 25
th
and 26
th
March,
before heading for its twin city of Miraj. That the railway station in Sangli is not easily
accessible, and Miraj serving as the main rail head was a reason why Sangli had been left
out in the itinerary in previous years.

Pre-publicity:

Mobilization by NGOs was very well done and there was striking presence of various
social groups, such as students in
Sangli city, youth in rural areas, sex
workers, workers and truckers.
RRE publicity and mobilization process
was initiated on 9
th
March, almost
three weeks prior to trains arrival to
the city. Apart from involving local
NGOs working on HIV/AIDS, those
working with women, adolescent girls
and boys and youth were also part of
reaching out. Folk media and street
theatre was used extensively to build
awareness and spread information
about RRE.

Shahir Devanand Mali, leader of the folk
artists troupe shared, There are total
four cultural troupes working on
ground; while we are working in station
area, others are active on various areas
in the city. I have prepared a special
powada that is approved by NACO and
has become official powada for
Maharashtra. I have been associated
with MSACS since past 12 years. This
time we have performed in various
places for past three weeks. Through our
performances we stress that the positive
people should be able to lead a normal
112

life and people in society should not discriminate with them.

Inauguration:

The inauguration programme made an
impressive start. A well organized
inauguration involved important
dignitaries like MLA Suresh Khade, Sangli
Mayor Idris Naikavadi, Municipal Health
Officer Dr. Ram Hankare, DHO Dr. Khare,
NYK head Mr. Patki, district head police
and information officer. Well-known actor
Sunil Barve was also present on the
occasion.

In his brief yet appealing speech Sunil
Barve gave very positive messages. He
said, Instead of being dismayed by the
severity of HIV prevalence, we should focus more upon spreading information and
knowledge as much possible. I feel everyone, including myself, who is aware of HIV is
responsible to spread awareness. He further said,
No person should be made to feel shameful about
his/her status. Rather society should get well
informed and be empathetic towards people who are
HIV infected. He appealed todays net savvy youth
to spare time from facebook or tweeter and use
internet to get sensibly knowledgeable about
HIV/AIDS. Be aware and spread awareness, he
appealed.

Welcoming RRE to Sangli, MLA Suresh Khade said,
This effort should be seen in continuum with
various ongoing programmes by government and
non-government agencies in the district. The
message needs to be hammered time and again to get
it imbibed in peoples minds.

Sangli Mayor Naikawadi suggested that the train, in
future trips, should halt at smaller stations in the
district so that people in nearby semi-urban and
rural areas will get a chance to visit it.





Stalls:
Stalls were set up by NGOs working with sex workers,
MSMs, truckers and migrants. A blood donation camp
was set up on the station by Padmabhudha
Vasantdada Patil Government Hospital.
113




Vishwas Magade, Project Manager,
Loknete Rajarambapu Patil Hospital
said, Events like RRE are most
important as they attract more
people and help to enhance impact of
local ongoing efforts. As a result of
successive efforts over the years now
people are better informed and
therefore less fearful. Acceptance to
PLHIVs has certainly increased.
Tendency to socially isolate infected
people is less prevalent as earlier.

Although IEC material distributed on
each stalls was almost the same,
activities were somewhat different. For instance, stall set up by Sangram and VAMP was
most active in all respects; from meeting and interacting with visitors to convincing
them for testing. Volunteers on this stall were greeting people by applying mehandi;
they were drawing a small ribbon logo on everybodys hand. They were untiringly
explaining information on HIV and about STDs with the help of visuals to people.
Mostly small group or individual visitor were hanging around the stall to know more.
Volunteers were encouraging them to get tested and also accompanying them to testing
compartment if needed. They had made a referral slip so that they can do follow up if
necessary. They motivated a large number of people, over 300 in two days, for testing.

General response in Sangli:

After the inauguration programme in a
mandap outside the station, RRE was open
to visitors. Initial groups of visitors were
mostly those mobilized by NGOs and their
networks. NGOs who were not directly
working with HIV and working on other
social issues were also visiting with the
people in their work areas. Vinayak Kulkarni
and other representatives from SOS
Network, a social organization in Sangli
working to check trafficking from rural areas
said, In response to appeal from NYK we
have mobilized youth from our work area
and brought them to visit the train. The network of 8 NGOs is active in 56 villages in 4
blocks Jat, Kavthe Mahankal, Miraj and Walwa. Over 500 girls and boys from the
village level youth groups formed by the network visited RRE. Although HIV/AIDS is
114

not our focus area, we thought it a good opportunity to sensitize youth on HIV and
hence collaborated with NYK to be part of it, said network partners.
Said a NCC cadet, I got in-depth
information. Now I am at least
aware what precautions to take to
avoid infection.

Similarly, a truck driver in contact
with Sangli District Transport
Associations project came to visit
with couple of people. I have
stopped visiting sex workers ever
since I became aware of HIV, he
said. Incidentally he has three
wives and three home in Sangli
itself, Hence I do not need to go
out! he said. He admitted that the
message of personal safety and that
of his partners is very well understood by him.

A boy studying in Class IX in Sarvodaya School said, there is a sex worker colony on my
way to school. Daily I see women there and am curious about them. He said,
Sometimes I feel like going there. But now realising consequences of such a behaviour
from the exhibition, I will not dare to visit there. I would rather focus on my studies.

Counseling and testing:

Roopali Suryavanshi is a Counselor with Kantijyoti Savitribai Phule Maternity Home, a
hospital run by Sangli Municipal Corporation. She has attended over 45 clients on
second day and said, Response was
low on day one, but it considerably
improved on day two. Most clients are
from 18-25 year age group and male.
Out of 45 clients I counseled so far only
3 are women. Most boys are curios as
well as anxious. We had some visitors
who were aware of their positive status
and has come with their children or to
know other services they can access
from government hospitals. Because of
conducive atmosphere built by RRE,
they open up quickly, as compared to
ICTCs.

A group of 7-8 youths around 20 years age visiting the RRE is a perfect case of peer
influence. One of them said, After seeing the exhibition and knowing about the test
115

facility we were so thrilled and wanted to go for testing. Since we going to get results
immediately all of us decided to go for testing and we are happy that we did it.

In all 364 people were counseled and 344 got tested in Sangli.


Stigma and discrimination:

Some responses clearly indicated that people are moving beyond threat perception of
HIV and are also supportive to PLHIVs.

A cheerful looking thirty year old Ravindra had come with a group of eight-ten youth
from Gundewadi village in Jat Block. He admitted that earlier he considered HIV a
dreaded disease and maintained a safe distance with people living with HIV. He said,
Knowledge of HIV has changed my mind. I feel, HIV positive people will get
disheartened if we do not allow them to mix up. They are human being like all of us and
should not be kept away. He was happy that he had come all the way to visit the train.
Response from loaders who work in and around station to offload goods from trains,
was quite impressive. On both days these loaders were dropping by in small groups. The
loaders were, mostly local people, working in market yard situated close to Sangli
station and also those working on Railway station itself to offload goods from trains.
Most of them also did testing. They were not much willing to talk about RRE experience,
116

other than saying that it was good. One of the loaders said, Now I am clear about HIV
and know that they need not be discriminated. He did testing and was happy about his
report. Most of the loaders
groups was interested in
testing.
Santosh Kamble,
Counselor with
Mooknayak that works
with migrants said that
RRE complements their
ongoing work in many
ways. We work with
migrant workers and it is
challenging to persuade
them to take protective
measures. Constant follow
up is essential. We have
asked them to visit RRE as
we are sure that seeing
exhibition will make a
different impact. It would
serve to hammer the message that would bring desirable behavioral changes. Santosh
also felt that team of volunteers should be better prepared to interact with visitors, a
factor lacking in present case. Mostly NGO workers have been selected to work as
volunteers with the exhibition in RRE, however, owing to considerable turnover of
workers and lack of proper orientation to them, they are not properly equipped to deal
with large crowds expected in RRE. Hence the quality of interaction often remains
poor and visitors do not get much out of their visit.

Shanta Durgappa Ballar working with VAMP and SANGRAM maintained, It is not
enough to visit RRE, but important to listen and understand messages as explained by
the volunteers. The way one does not get HIV status till the testing is done, we dont
understand content merely by sweeping through the posters/visuals. One has to really
listen to info. Shanta had
brought a large group along
and felt, all, positive and
negative people should
understand the messages.

In fact most NGOs working
on HIV in Sangli had made
noteworthy efforts to mobilize
people from communities they
are working with, especially
HRGs. Most felt that RRE is
an opportunity where they
can come out of their areas
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and can see various social groups engaged in a similar work.
Female sex workers:

Bandhvva, founder of Veshya Mahila AIDS Nirmulan, an organisation working with sex
workers and running various activities for them and their children, such as health
services, educational inputs to women, skill development and so on visited the RRE and
so did around 2000 community women. She was of the opinion that -HIV is a matter of
life and death for us. We know everything about it and teach our girls to protect them
and their customers. It is important that common public gets aware. I am really
concerned about the young generation who often indulge in high risk behaviour. More
than us RRE is important for them.

Training:

On an average five training
sessions took place per day for
various groups, such as police,
youth, health workers, teachers,
sex workers and general public.
A training was specially
organised for group of sex
workers. A total of 538 people
were trained on the two days in
Sangli.

Each session was two-hour
long; this duration is quite
taxing for both the trainers and
participants, as some of the
interviews revealed.

Mohan Bhore working with CABA, DAPCU, Sangli is one of the trainers. He said that
three people teamed up to carry out the session. He said, However, it is difficult to keep
participants engaged for two-hours through just lecture method. There is no scope to
use other aids, such as film clips etc., in the sessions. For instance, each session talks
about role specific to category of participants, especially in minimizing stigma and
discrimination in their sector. With visual aid issues like discrimination can be easily
brought forth for discussion, he added. He pointed correctly and some of the Audio-
Video clips in the exhibition, and some other films, can be included in training process.

Lata Todkar is an Anganwadi Worker in Nandre village in Miraj block. She said she has
received couple of HIV trainings as AWWs are expected to work to build awareness,
which has equipped her to impart information to women and adolescent girls. However,
she points, interacting with women is not just enough. But being women, we cannot take
sessions with men. She said, Most significant aspect of RRE exhibition to me is that it is
addressed to both men and women. Specific messages to men and women in the
exhibition would make both aware and responsible.
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Two village girls, studying in Class X, found training session too lengthy. They should
have covered limited topics and helped us to build clarity on them. But there were two
many topics and we were not able to relate with all of them. They were referring to
statistics and also to technical and dry PPT presentation. Apart from timing issue, they
were very happy with the content. On asking to share one significant learning point one
of them said, I learned HIV is not a communicable disease and therefore we should not
hate positive people.

Sangli was definitely a success story for RRE, since on its maiden visit, it was in a
position to draw in huge crowds, and was quite efficient in spreading the messages of
awareness, fight against stigma and discrimination, and the importance of testing in
fighting HIV. The next halt for RRE was Miraj.

The total crowd that visited on 25 & 26 March the RRE here was close to 26407

































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RRE in Miraj:

The historic town of Miraj is
located in Sangli district and is
at a distance of around 10 kms
from the headquarters of the
district Sangli. An important
historical place, it is a big
railway junction. The town also
enjoys the unique distinction of
the highest per capita number
of hospitals in the country.

RRE visited Miraj for the third
time in three years and was
stationed on platform No. 1 for
ease of convenience on the 27
th

and 28
th
of March. At the
inauguration ceremony to
welcome the RRE, Shyam Vardhane, collector of Sangli was present as the chief guest.
Other dignitaries present on the occasion were Railway EDM Gupta, CEO, RRE,
Mohnish Kumar, Miraj Tehsildar Deepak Shinde, Railway Manager B B Patil, Civil
Surgeon P B Babure, information officer and DAPCU team.

The collector felicitated all team members boarding RRE throughout and appreciated
their wholehearted commitment.
Shyam Vardhane said during the inauguration, Fear and misconceptions about HIV are
widespread. Even the close relatives and family members fear to keep contact with
infected people, acceptance can be built only through awareness and RRE is
contributing towards building awareness.

Stalls at the station:
Various organisation that set
up their stalls included Sangli
Zilla Devdasi Mahila Vikas
Mandal, an organisation
working with devdasi women
and having over 300
members, SANGRAM and
VAMP, Sangli District
Transport Association,
Mooknayak, Aamhich
Aamche, network of people
living with HIV, ART centre,
Rajarambapu Patil Hospital,
Islampur, DAPCU and Dilasa.

120

The stall by Sangram and VAMP
was most vibrant in Miraj.
Volunteers were calling people to
get information and explaining
them the significance of testing.
As a result of their persuasion,
these visitors were hanging
around for more time in
exhibitions and also were doing
testing. The organization was
giving people who were interested
in testing a referral slip and a
volunteer was accompanying them
so that they feel supported and
have no problem in finding the
compartment.

They convinced over 300 visitors in Sangli and Miraj each for testing.

General response from Miraj:

The 7-member cultural troupe, Shiva Sambha Vaghya Murali Patry Miraj, led by Shahir
Avdhoot Pawar was performing four shows a day at the station and were attracting good
crowd.

There were a number of batches of
school students, both boys and girls,
visiting the exhibition. Other groups
included junior college and nursing
students, police, SHG members and
railway staff. RRE also attracted
railway passengers and there were
individual visitors, including
positive people, local as well as
arriving from nearby places like
Islampur to visit the train. A lot of
migrant workers working in MIDC
visited on the second day, Tuesday
being their weekly off.

There were quite a few who visited RRE after knowing about it through newspapers. A
56 year old man from Islampur visited the train after he came to know about it through
newspaper. He said, I read almost all information published in newspaper on HIV.
Therefore I am aware, but those who can not read or todays youth who do not like to
read much, can be benefitted by RRE. The information is very good.

121

A group of 3-4 young boys, studying
in second year in A commerce college
said, We are young and this age is
dangerous. We are swayed by
attractions. Hence this is just right
time for us to know all about HIV, so
that we are alert and will not be
misled. They said that they are going
to send their friends to visit RRE.

Sachin Satpute, a teacher in Abhinav
Nursing College, had brought a group
of 15 nursing students. He said,
Being in nursing profession we have
a special responsibility, any bias or
misconception in our mind would
come in our way of fulfilling our
duties. Hence in order to make our students aware and clear we have come to visit RRE.
The presentation is wonderful and informative.

A group of 6-7 young (25-30 years) railway workers was discussing among themselves
the posters. They all were working in maintenance department (railway khalashis).
They spoke very positively about the programme. Some of their responses were,

1. Information should be given, in fact it should be given in younger age when
children form their opinions on the basis of incomplete knowledge or fall prey
to peer
pressure.

2. In fact,
knowledge
of HIV
should
eventually
be
integrated
in the
school
curriculum.
If we learn
it in schools
itself, there will not be a need for any special programmes like RRE.

3. I hardly knew anything (about HIV) as a boy. When I left my village and
came to city for college education, I was introduced to health knowledge.
Everyone should be aware of ones safety and well being.
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Amod More works
as a counsellor in
Rajarambapu Patil
Hospital, Islampur.
He said, RRE is
complementary to
our ongoing
programmes. We
are working with
migrants and want
them to come to
visit the train. We
have not only
informed them
about trains arrival, but also have created interest about it through street play. Tuesday
is their weekly off and we are expecting to visit here. He further added, In my
experience RRE certainly minimises fear and creates an interest to know more about
HIV. I have seen a rise in number of people visiting ICTC for information and out of
curiosity. However, this impact is not lasting, and therefore I feel we need to think of
ways to sustain the impact for longer duration.

About 700 students belonging to VIII & IX class of Miraj High School took advantage of
the exhibition. They liked information on `nutritious diet and they would always
remember how HIV is transmitted and the myths related to it.

Students of class IX from Pandit Nehru Vidyalay in Kavlapur, liked the question &
answer touch screen. One student said, It helped me to understand how much I
understood. One of the students said this information is going to help us to protect
ourselves in future. Another added that `we can now confidently talk about it with
others..

Sachin Inamdar and Suvarna Patil are second year Bachelor of Arts students at Miraj
College. They learned about RRE from a local newspaper and they along with their
friends decided to visit. Earlier they had generic information about HIV, but now they
believe they have got specific information on health, mode of transmission and
preventive measures. Sachin said, I am glad that I came here. To get this information at
the right age is very important.

Avadhoot Shankar Jadhav, Class IX student from Swami Ramanand Bhartiya Vidya
Mandir in Tasgaon admitted, I learned that HIV is not a communicable disease. Earlier
I thought it is very contagious, dangerous and leads to death. I specifically asked about it
123

to people explaining posters to us. Now I am clear that there is no harm to others from
positive person and it is better to get tested when in doubt. Total 71 students from this
school visited RRE.

A student of Sangli ITI, read about RRE
in local newspaper and informed about it
to his instructor. Nineteen students
decided to visit the exhibition along with
their teacher. Everybody had generic
information about HIV. A student said,
This exhibition was useful in getting new
and more specific information.
Information on modes of transmission,
preventive measures, and care and
support that needs to be given to positive
person was very useful. Most of them
liked information given on phone as it
was a direct communication. Some also
liked question and answers on touch screens and moving pictures. They said they would
share this knowledge with other friends and if they come across HIV positive person
they would treat him like any other person `normally.

A total of 25738 persons visited the RRE in Miraj on the two days of its halt.

Stigma and discrimination:

Shahir Avdhoot Pawar of Shiva
Sambha Vaghya Murali Patry
Miraj had prepared awareness
songs on HIV, especially on
stigma. We are performing on
Miraj station as folk songs attract
peoples attention. People
mistreat HIV Positive people and
we tell that this attitude needs to
be changed through our songs.
Shankar Titkare from Miraj
Police said, I have learned a
little about HIV in Police
training, but here the
information is much more
comprehensive. I liked it. As a
child I have seen two families
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suffering due to HIV. In one of them the infected couple was kept in a secluded room by
their family. Why do people do this? There is no need for a differential treatment.


It became more and more
clear while talking to
youths, students, women
and men from rural and
urban backgrounds, that
most were open to
acceptance at least at the
thought level, which is
certainly a positive change.
HIV people should not be
discriminated was the most
common response, and
people were keen to know
about HIV, and get clarified
their misconceptions.


Admitting rising level of acceptance, a volunteer working with PPTCT programme of
Mooknayak, who was earlier working with Aamhich Aamche, positive peoples network
in Sangli said, We have faced severe stigma and discrimination. As compared to
situation a decade ago, awareness is better and we did not had to do lot of convincing to
mobilize people. Better awareness is leading to acceptance to PLHIVs. However, we
should know the changing nature of stigma and discrimination. Positive people are well
accepted till they are healthy, they face problems when their health deteriorates and
they are more vulnerable. Now there is need to focus to get community support to
positive people in their terminal stages.

Testing:

Testing facility was an attraction,
especially for young boys. It is
free over here, otherwise we have
to pay for it, said one boy and
persuaded others with him to go
for it. There was a sense of anxiety
followed by relief in most cases.
One of them after getting the
report admitted that, It is like
appearing for a SSC exam!
A college student said, A
volunteer asked me to visit the
counselor so I visited him and did
testing. I was a little under
125

pressure before testing,
but after getting report I
am relieved of my
burden and no longer
fearful of HIV. I am
going to ask my friends
to visit the train.
Aishwarya, a Class XI
student from Pandit
Nehru Junior College,
said. Information is
very nice, especially for
girls. We otherwise do
not get a chance to know
about topics such as HIV
or STDs. The girls do not
have proper health
knowledge when they are married off. I think this information should be explained to
them before getting married. Also blood testing of the boy as well as girl should be done
before finalizing their marriage as a precautionary measure.

Twelve students from B.Ed College made a visit to RRE. Their professor had informed
about it, and some of them had read it in Newspaper. They said in unison, Exhibition
triggered several questions and doubts, and so we talked to counsellors and got them
clarified. We also liked the arrangement of testing and immediate reports. Four of them
used the testing facility.

A worker in his thirties, who is
working to produce publicity
material for ZP, such as flex
boards and banners, said, I
have visited the train when it
came to Miraj for the first time.
This is my second visit.
Information is really good, but
they have not changed the
designs and displays much. I
prepare flex boards and we
introduce new designs after
every six-eight months. But
here, I find it mostly the same
as it was in previous visit. They
should renew it each time so that repeat visitors like me will also get something new out
of it. Testing facility is the only new addition and I have got myself tested.
126

There was good response by women visitors in Miraj. Nursing college students, SHG
members were undergoing testing.

A passenger travelling
to Belgaum visited
exhibition while waiting
for his train. This
50+year passenger told,
It very well tells how
the virus spreads in
body and causes harm.
You become weak
eventually. But it takes a
lot of time and there are
no specific symptoms to
know whether you have
it or not. Knowing this I
felt I should do testing,
just for safety sake. But
I will not do it here
since I have to catch
train, but I will certainly
do it once I am back.


Training:

A group of 40-45 from RSP (Riot Control Platoon), Miraj Police visited RRE and
attended training. Said a police officer, We work in difficult situations such as riots and
accidents, and often come in contact with human blood. Therefore we need to know how
to protect ourselves from infection. We learn about HIV in our training but not very
elaborately. The training helped us to understand specific risk factors due to nature of
our work and how to deal with them. The trainer in RRE told us about PEP that helps to
contain any risk after we come in contact with human blood. Each one of us is
concerned with our own lives, isnt it. We had no clue about it and found this
information most important.

Realization that even he is at risk is crucial point in HIV prevention. Such an
understanding leads to self reflection and also minimizes blaming others for HIV
spread. A group of 10-12 migrant workers, working in Miraj MIDC visited the train.
Tuesday happens to be their weekly off. Their peer leader Jamaluddin said, We have
come from UP, today (Tuesday) is our weekly off and therefore we could come here. We
saw the exhibition and also attended training. Actually we know this information, but all
do not take safety measures. I hope this will make some impact on people and therefore
I brought them here.

127

A person was alone and watching the exhibition and AVs carefully. He came to know
about RRE through newspapers. He said, I am on 2
nd
line ART and doctor told me I
might need to go to Pune for further treatment. I came here hoping I will get to know
what should I do. He attended training and visited counselors with the same hope.

Sandeep Landge,
Sachin Pawar,
Sandeep Bhrame
work with Sangli
Police. They felt
that the
information
displayed in train is
same as before. But
we liked the
training, there were
more details given.
We were able to ask
our queries and
cleared our doubts.
They also did HIV
test. They felt that
this is good
arrangement as one
does not get time to
go to the government hospital and get the test done. One of them asked why training
was only given to male police? Why no women police force was included? He further
added, Women police force should also be made aware of this, as they play an
important role in society.

Around 297 people underwent counseling and 253 HIV testing in Miraj.

Female sex workers:

Susheela Kunde from Sangram said, A group of sex workers visited the exhibition in
the morning. Most are from Karnataka and have very functional knowledge of Marathi.
So they divided themselves in teams and each team had a translator, who listened to all
information we explained in Marathi and explained it to others in Kannada. We were
impressed with their interest levels.

Sangram also referred 150 MSMs and 50 FSWs, who were mostly street-based to testing
facility.

Kamalabai Pany, leading VAMP member said, RRE is a good opportunity to spread
awareness of HIV and related issues among common populations, especially the women.
Housewives are more vulnerable as they are most unaware. They have no access to
information and voluntary organizations are unable to reach to them. But here we have
128

visitors like teachers, nursing and college students, SHG women, PRI members, who get
exposed to accurate information. That is the success of RRE.


Other responses:

Quite a lot depends on the
way information is
explained to visitors and
the way they are
encouraged to know more
and ask their doubts. In
this respect the
interactions within the
exhibition compartment
are significant. These
volunteers had mix
experiences as shared by
Yashoda Nyayneet, Sunita
More, Susheela Kunde (all
Sangram);

People have misconceptions in their mind and share some of them with us. The
exhibition and our interaction certainly helps to clarify at least some of their doubts.
We also have some positive visitors. PLHIVs are constantly grappling ways to face the
society without having to get stigmatized. We tell them right to life is a fundamental
right and they have to learn to live with dignity. After learning their situation we suggest
them to attend training or visiting the counselor or both so that they find out some way
to relieve burden.

Today a boy around 25
years old visited. He wanted
to know how to avoid
passing infection to new
born. We talked to him
about PPTCT and also asked
him to attend training. He
visited us again to tell that he
attended training and going
to take his wife to
government hospital. Some
people are in doubt and
interaction over here
certainly sorts out dilemmas
in their mind and come to a
decision.

129

People do not speak on their own. We encourage them to speak. Once they open up
they ask their doubts. Although substantial awareness has been spread, facilities have
been made available, mindset has not changed. And in this context we need to give
accurate information, through general information curiosity can be created, but for
change in mindset they need to get specific and accurate information, which we pass on
through our
interactions.

On one hand people
say they know
everything about HIV,
but on the other they
ask whether it will be
completely cured
through ART? This
shows some
information has
reached them, yet they
are not completely
aware about it. Visit to
RRE contributes to
build their awareness
levels further.


We are here to give information, explain the posters, but people also have to show some
interest in knowing what they are watching. At times people, positive or otherwise, seem
least concerned about these issues. Seriousness in demands is completely lacking, which
is a greatest hurdle in prevention work.

We have some positive visitors, who appreciate information displayed over here. They
understands its significant the most and feel that awareness would lead to prevention.
Santosh Bhise, journalist Sakal (Sangli) said, It is good, but information displayed is
inadequate. In comparison, the information given on science express is vivid. This year
the involvement of NGOs seems to be less, as there are fewer stalls compared to
previous years. He suggested, A small act or street play should be performed in one of
the compartments.

The response in Miraj which is a high risk zone was most amazing, and the general
response sums this up. Many of the visitors felt that government of Indias initiative
would go a long way to bring a change in the attitude towards HIV.
130


MAHARASHTRA COMPARATIVE FIGURES FOR RRE II AND RRE III