NGOs protest AIDS workers' arrests

new delhi: can material prepared for spreading awareness on hiv/aids be construed as pornographic? the question has been raised by activists, angered at the denial of bail to members of a non-government organisation working with gay groups in lucknow. they have been charged with running a sex racket.signed statements by activists from across the country are questioning the arrests of the bharosa and naz foundation international members.these ngos have been charged with promoting "unnatural sexual activities" and distributing obscene books. the offices of the ngos have been sealed and material used for aids education and awareness seized for being obscene.according to the up police, the two organisation have been promoting homosexuality, which is inimical to the indian cultural values. ironically, in the wake of the deaths due to aids, the central government has recognised gay groups as being a vulnerable segment, requiring urgent intervention.the national aids control organisation supports ngos working with these groups. naz foundation international, in fact, provides support by way of awareness material to 13 ngos all over the country. ngos, which have signed protest letters, noted that like other individuals, gays have the basic right to life and health, to accurate information and services without discrimination and fear. ngos are demanding that those arrested should at least be granted bail.naco project director jvr prasada rao termed the incident "most unfortunate". aids activists have had a brush with the police in the past too. but it was limited to arrests of the peer educators, who need to go out in the field and talk about safe sex practices. to get over this problem, state aids societies have started giving identity cards to peer educators.lawyers' collective, one of the activist organisations working on aids, while asking for bail, has termed the activists' arrests and sealing of ngo offices, a gross violation of the activists' fundamental rights.