Karnataka Ombudsman has heard 108 HIV Act complaints since July 2021

The HIV/AIDS Ombudsman successful Karnataka has received and disposed of 108 complaints filed by radical surviving with HIV (PLHA) implicit the past four-and-a-half years, which officials accidental is the highest fig recorded successful the state nether the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017.

According to the consolidated half-yearly reports submitted to the Union Ministry of Health, the complaints pertained to stigma, discrimination, and denial of services betwixt July 2021 and December 2025. The mechanics was made operational successful Karnataka successful mid-2021, pursuing the notification of State rules and the assignment of the Ombudsman.

Healthcare settings

Gangu Bai Ramesh Manakar, Ombudsman for Karnataka and the State nodal serviceman for grievance redressal nether the Act, said that healthcare settings accounted for the largest stock of complaints (53), followed by workplaces (26), acquisition institutions (23), and assemblage settings (6). No complaints were recorded from exigency aesculapian situations. “Most of the complaints were resolved wrong the mandated 30 moving days,” she said.

Data showed the fig of complaints varied crossed half-yearly cycles, with 11 cases recorded betwixt July–December 2021, 7 betwixt January–June 2022, 8 betwixt July–December 2022, 12 betwixt January–June 2023, 14 betwixt July–December 2023, 16 betwixt January–June 2024, 17 betwixt July–December 2024, 10 betwixt January–June 2025, and 13 betwixt July–December 2025.

Awareness inactive low

While Karnataka has been among the earliest States to operationalise the Ombudsman mechanism, PLHA groups said consciousness astir the forum remains constricted extracurricular large municipality districts.

Sannidhi (name changed), from Sirsi, who has lived with HIV for implicit 25 years, said the mechanics is important for enforcing the rights guaranteed nether the Act but remains under-utilised. “With little than 110 complaints successful a State wherever stigma is widespread, particularly astatine ART centres, consciousness is the biggest gap,” she said.

Naina (name changed), from Shivamogga, who faced issues astatine a section wellness facility, said the Act demands zero tolerance for discrimination. “Even 1 lawsuit affects thousands among our 2.4 lakh PLHA population. Awareness and grooming are required crossed districts,” she said.

Officials said that some wide and interpersonal campaigns are underway to amended awareness. IEC vans, outdoor media, and integer messaging are being utilized astatine the colonisation level, portion sensitisation programmes are being conducted for Self-Help Groups, Anganwadi workers, ASHAs, Panchayati Raj institutions and different grassroots stakeholders, isolated from representatives from the backstage sector.

What the Act says

Under the 2017 Act, complaints indispensable beryllium filed wrong 3 months from the day of the alleged violation, with a proviso for a three-month extension. Complaints tin beryllium submitted via email (ombudsman.hiv@karnataka.gov.in), post, helplines - 1097 / 9449846954, oregon successful person, with assistance disposable for completing Form-A and informed consent. 

Some States person adopted alternate redressal models. In Kerala, which has an estimated 17,000 cumulative HIV cases, astir stigma and favoritism complaints are handled astatine the territory level done accelerated effect attraction and enactment teams led by District AIDS Control Officers. Kerala SACS Joint Director Rashmi Mahadevan said the exemplary allows speedy involution portion maintaining confidentiality.