CORPORATE RESPONSE TO HIV/AIDS: A REPLICABLE STORY FROM TECHNOPARK, TRIVANDRUM

[BEST PRACTICE DOCUMENTATION UNIT OF KSACS]

CORPORATE RESPONSE TO HIV/AIDS: A REPLICABLE STORY FROM TECHNOPARK,
TRIVANDRUM
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The Mainstreaming Division of KSACS is on right track in sensitizing
the corporate sector and attracting their resources to initiate
workplace interventions. The pilot effort made by Mainstreaming
Division with the Group of Techno Park Companies (GTECH), was such an
endeavor which produced positive responses, igniting the inspiration
for focused efforts with more companies in corporate sector.

There is no doubt that HIV/AIDS has direct impact on a corporate
firm’s productivity and profitability. If left unchecked, it can be a
cause for greater absenteeism and staff turnover, higher recruitment
and training costs, higher costs in medical care or insurance
coverage, retirement funds, etc. A less obvious but equally important
cost is declining morale and productivity among employees. Human
rights violation may also happen to the infected employees in the work
place due to the associated stigma and discrimination. AIDS not only
affects the health of workers; it also takes a toll on their savings,
resources of their families, and their productivity as they start
spending more time taking care of the sick. In India the Government or
health sector alone cannot prevent this scenario; they need support
both in terms of policy level and action level from the business
sector. Now the situation looks for bold actions from the business
sector.

The adoption of an HIV/AIDS Policy for its member companies by G-TECH
with the catelistic involvement of Mainstreaming Division of KSACS is
such a bold initiative to save their human work force from the octopus
grip of HIV/AIDS. GTECH, The Group of Technopark Companies, founded in
2000, represented by the CEO’s of the companies in Technopark, is the
apex organization of companies in Technopark. The GTECH mission is to
promote the cause of the community of IT companies in Kerala, with
specific emphasis on the overall development of the State. Spread over
nearly 300 acres with 2.1 million sq. ft. of built-up space available
currently, Technopark hosts over 120 IT and ITES companies employing
over 15,000 IT professionals.

The Policy proclaims their commitment to inculcate awareness of HIV/
AIDS at the deepest level among the member companies, their employees
and their families to prevent its occurrence. It ensures that members
do not discriminate against any employee with HIV/AIDS. The policy
offers their willingness to launch regular awareness programmes with
strong messages on HIV/AIDS in all the Government owned information
Technology Parks in the State. The policy expresses their readiness to
collaborate with KSACS and other concerned State level or National
Level Government Institutions to work for the prevention of HIV/AIDS.

The G-TECH companies are now active in HIV/AIDS awareness programmes.
They have incorporated a module on HIV/AIDS in their staff induction
training program. They are enthusiastically associating with the
voluntary blood donation programme on a regular basis and on
conducting education programmes on safe blood donation to their
employees. They have linked the website of KSACS to the website of G-
Tech. They also readily associate with various HIV related campaigns
and observance of various days like World AIDS Day, World Blood
Donation day, etc.

The Mainstreaming Division maintains regular contact with the
executive committee of G-Tech in search of expanding the collaboration
to additional areas. This effort will certainly boost up the morale of
Mainstreaming Division to extend its efforts to more other corporate
institutions in the State. It will in turn help start more work place
interventions to prevent HIV in the corporate sector. It will also
serve our work force with sufficient messages and services on HIV and
its prevention.

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BEST PRACTICE DOCUMENTATION UNIT
IEC DIVISION, KERALA STATE AIDS CONTROL SOCIETY
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, KERALA
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Management Support by:
Hindustan Latex Family Planning Promotion Trust (HLFPPT)
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