KOLKATA: The HIV-positive special educator, who was sent on extended leave by his employers at a school for mentally challenged and learning-disabled children, has received a job offer as a teacher with an NGO working with HIV-positive children. However, the institution that had sent him on leave stressed that his job remains intact and he will continue to receive his salary even during the leave.
“What has happened to this man is unacceptable in today’s era. He has two postgraduate degrees and is pursuing another master’s degree. Such a qualified man cannot be deprived of his job for being HIV positive. We would be glad if he accepts the job offer as a special educator in our school,” said Kallol Ghosh, who runs a home and school for HIV positive and street children in Sonarpur.
On Saturday, TOI had written that the teacher was asked by his employers to “take an extended leave” after discovering that he was HIV positive, fearing that he might infect his students with a virus that doctors agreed is extremely difficult to transmit except through sexual intercourse and sharing of contaminated syringes. Officials at the shelter school where he had been working for four years, and parents of children there, are concerned about the safety of their wards and are not comfortable with his presence.
“We have not taken away his job. We have told him that he will get his regular salary while we speak to a group of doctors and parents’ associations about the risk of having him here. We deal with mentally challenged children who have a tendency to bite teachers. We cannot take any chances. We are even considering assigning him to another post where he will not have direct contact with students,” said Ranajit Mondal, the school’s secretary.
The HIV-positive patient, who took a social worker’s exam on Sunday, said he was hurt by the school’s decision and would rather work elsewhere than return to school. “I am a teacher. If they don’t let me teach there, I can make the most of my skills somewhere else,” he said.
Following the TOI report, people started a campaign on social media demanding justice for the man, while several political leaders spoke out against the school’s move.
“The HIV and AIDS Act, 2017 protects him from discrimination. I strongly oppose any such move by the youth’s employers,” Trinamool spokesperson Kunal Ghosh posted on social media.
CPM leader Sujan Chakraborty and gender and disability rights activist Shampa Sengupta also spoke out. “It is extremely worrying that a special educator is being discriminated against by a special school because of his HIV status. How can a special school be run without being sensitive to health rights issues?” Sengupta wrote. State minister for women, child development and social welfare Shashi Panja said she had instructed the director of health services to look into the matter.
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