WEST
INDIA COUNCIL
IACC Committed
to Strive for
AIDS-free India
The
West India Council
(WIC) of the Indo-American
Chamber of Commerce
(IACC) and the
United States
Consulate General,
Mumbai co-hosted
“AIDS Free
India”,
an event organized
to spread HIV/AIDS
awareness in India
at the US Consulate
Lawns in Mumbai
on 15 March 2007.
The evening saw
an elite gathering
of over 250 people
from the corporate
sector, senior
government officials,
socialites and
Bollywood celebrities.
With over 5.2
million HIV cases
affecting Indians
between the ages
of 15 and 49,
India is on the
brink of a potentially
major epidemic.
Worldwide, over
40 million suffer
from HIV and more
than 20 million
people around
the world have
lost their lives
to the infection.
The attraction
for the evening
was Hollywood
film star and
Youth AIDS Ambassador,
Ashley Judd who
had specially
come to Mumbai
to spread awareness
about HIV and
AIDS and find
solutions to control
it.
Ms. Judd, requested
everyone to pledge
their support
to AIDS Free India.
As an act of solidarity
she requested
all to hold hands
and raise them
to mark their
commitment towards
the cause. Her
spontaneous address
was very impressive
and inspiring;
it touched the
right chord in
every heart.
Michael Owen,
US Consul General,
Mumbai, pledged
broader support
for HIV programs:
“The United
States has committed
$15 billion for
the President's
Emergency Plan
for AIDS Relief
and is spending
approximately
$30 million on
HIV in India this
year. However,
governments alone
are not enough
to combat HIV.
Everyone can play
a role in education,
prevention, or
care for those
affected.”
Owen stressed
that those affected
by HIV must be
treated with dignity
and receive desperately
needed care. He
invited businesses
to consider how
they could support
their employees
and their communities
through education
and outreach efforts.
IACC (WIC) President
Atul Nishar said,
“the Chamber
has taken up the
mission to create
an AIDS-free India.
We will motivate
corporate members
to come together
to fight the spread
of AIDS. This
is the first major
social responsibility
project undertaken
by the Chamber,
which has so far
solely been focusing
on Indo-US trade.”
Owen also applauded
the Indo-US Corporate
Fund for HIV/AIDS,
a joint effort
among Indian and
US governments
and private corporations
to build a broader
coalition against
HIV, noting that
companies recognize
the impact they
can have in stepping
up to the challenge
of the disease.
During the evening,
Punj Lloyd, Ltd.
was recognized
by the Corporate
Fund partners
and the Consul
General for the
company's leadership
in launching a
new initiative
to fight HIV.
This award acted
as a stimulant
for other industries
to contribute
to the HIV/AIDS
work.
Bollywood actors
Suresh and Vivek
Oberoi, father
and son, along
with their family
pledged support
and spoke passionately
about the cause.
The event's highlights
included performances
by Sandeep Soparkar
and Jesse Randhawa
and for the finale
it had the Rock
band, Infra-Red
making everybody
rock.
