In ‘This’ Village of Harayana Couples to go through HIV tests before Marriage

NP NEWS 24 ONLINE – Recently the world celebrated AIDS day, to spread awareness about the disease and on the same background Chandeni village of Bhiwani district, Haryana have made it compulsory for would be couples to get the HIV test done. 

HIV is a virus that targets and alters the immune system, increasing the risk and impact of other infections and diseases. Without treatment, the infection might progress to an advanced disease stage called AIDS.

We have seen panchayat taking worst decision for the village but this time they have taken a good decision to conduct HIV test before marriage. A resolution for the same was passed a few days after the 10-member panchayat, and sarpanch Mamta Sangwan, were unanimously elected by the villagers.

Agreeing with the idea, Dharamjit Grewal and Mukesh Rani who go married on Monday, submitted their HIV reports to the sarpanch.

“Most villagers here are educated and know the implications of such a disease. Hence, soon after the panchayat passed this resolution, we got the test done. It was produced before the village in the presence of the panchayat, which was invited for reception held on Monday,” Dharamjit.

26-year-old Mamta is very confident about the success of the idea, which was suggested to her by Sanjay Ramphal, an activist and theatre artist in the village. The panchayat members have also decided to gift a tulsi sapling to couples and ask them to pledge that they will not indulge in female foeticide.

“HIV infection is claiming so many lives and I don’t want anyone from our village to die because of it. I will try to extend the fight against HIV to adjoining villages as well.”

Mamta Sangwan is a graduate who was elected as the first woman sarpanch of the village. Her husband, Hitesh Sangwan, is a head constable in the Army. According to reports, it is not compulsory for people getting married to take the test.