Karaibou Chawang
Kohima | May 23
Australia announced large scale HIV/AIDS prevention programme, involving millions of dollars, for the four North Eastern states of India-Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Meghalaya. Australian High Commissioner, John McCarthy, who is on a 10 days visit to Nagaland, disclosed today that Australia has already announced additional $330,000 for the four North Eastern states on Monday, while another $8.5 million will be announced in a few days time for comprehensive HIV/AIDS programme in the four states of the NE.
The project is aimed at bringing down the prevalent rate of HIV/AIDS amongst the Intravenous Drug Users (IDUs), to prevent further spread and provide future patients care.
$ 330,000 would be channelized through UNODC, while $8.5 through UNAIDS. Australia who is one of the leading fund provider for India in the fight against the dreaded disease, said that it would work in conjunction with the United Nation and Government of India.
The money would be utilized through the state government, municipal corporations, NGOs and village level bodies.
John McCarthy met the state Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and Chief Secretary Lalhuma, and discussed with them the issue of HIV/AIDS and other potentials areas where Australia can contribute their bits in the development of the state.
Besides, HIV/AIDS programme, Australia would also embark on other long term programme, which would include infrastructural development like building of bridges, road etc, building infrastructure for science and technology, assist in addressing unemployment problem, which is the root cause of IDUs, and explore potential areas for foreign investment in the region.
Education is another sector prioritized by Australia. “We offer scholarship scheme to the students. It is a generous scheme. We will urge the students of the North East region to avail it”, the High Commissioner said.
“The region is a long way from Central India. We can observe the important of this region. We are embarking on diplomatic concentration in South East Asia through this region”, John McCarthy said.
Australia will also contribute in a little way to the development of tourism and food processing projects in the region, said McCarthy.
However, High Commissioner said that it will ask it citizens to be little careful in certain parts of the region where violence are common, while assisting tourism growth in the region.
John McCarthy also said that during his stay in the state he could observe so much of pride in Nagas in preserving their traditional and cultural identity. “There is strong sense of this particular identity, which has to be encouraged, despite of political disagreement with the government of India”, High Commissioner added.
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