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Corporate efforts to help AIDS victims a success
Times of India, Bangalore, May 20, 2000

Awareness levels on the disease raised

Sriranjan Chaudhuri

It is among the first corporate efforts to deal with HIV/ AIDS systematically. And it's already beginning to show results.

Just a month after having announced its desire to champion the cause of those carrying the virus, Union Transport India is being offered help in terms of manpower, funds, food, clothing and groceries.

At its level, Union Transport India, a subsidiary of the $571 million Union Transport global network, a global freight and logistic company has ensured that a certain sum of money, all donated from the monthly salaries of its employees reaches the Freedom Foundation, home for HIV positive persons.

Employees spend weekends at the home, accounting staff chip in with expertise while others contribute in terms of clothing or other requirements. But more importantly it liaises with its business partners to raise all possible help for these people The company also talks to customers and partners in order to raise awareness levels.

Says Union Transport India L Shesh Kulkarni, "We have to at a corporate level ensure that the taboo attached to the virus be scaled down by a constant effort at educating people and making them more aware."

"The response of our customers and business colleagues has been amazing and they have responded very positively to our efforts at not only raising funds but also our bid to sensitise corporate employees."

He adds, "It could have stopped at writing down the cursory cheque and handing it over to an organization involved with HIV positive persons. But as a corporate entity, we wanted to be more involved and ensure that the human side of doing business is not lost."

An effort that has not gone unnoticed by the Freedom Foundation team.

Says executive trustee Ashok K 'Rau, "The corporate sector has largely denied the threat of HIV/AIDS to the lives of their employees and the company as a whole. There is, however, a need to reach out to address this issue at many levels. And to that extent the efforts of the Union India's employees is a good start at addressing the HIV/AIDS at the corporate level."

It's still a long way to go before companies start putting an HIV policy in place and announce it as done in several corporate entities in the West.

But at least we are accepting it as a reality and spreading awareness. We are equipping ourselves and our customers to handle it much better," says Kulkarni. The amount Union India staffers contribute every month is a variable am depends on the comfort levels of each individual. But the

But the commitment to play a part in making life a little better for HIV positive persons has become a part of their work culture.