Indian State of Maharashtra To Adopt Workplace Policy Aimed at Reducing Discrimination Against HIV-Positive People

The western Indian state of Maharashtra on Dec. 1, World AIDS Day 2006, is expected to announce the country's first policy to reduce discrimination against HIV-positive people in the workplace, Reuters reports. The policy -- which will cover recruitment, transfers and promotions -- first will be implemented in state government offices, according to Maharashtra health secretary Vijay Satbir Singh. After a few months, private firms, which are not required to follow provisions against discrimination in the Indian constitution, will be asked to adopt the policy. "Authorities who know about the HIV-positive status of an employee would be required to keep it confidential," Singh said. Maharashtra, the wealthiest Indian state, has approximately 650,000 HIV-positive people (Reuters, 11/20).