Success is a journey, not a destination. This is what the volunteers and officials of The Kulkarni Charitable Trust, supported by Avert Society will attest to.
The trust working in Karad, Maharashtra was constantly approached by industrial workers who were migrating to big towns in search of better livelihood options. The nagging worry of providing food for the family coupled with the loneliness of an alien town, put these industrial workers at risk of HIV.
The Kulkarni Charitable Trust fully comprehended the gravity of the matter and immediately began work towards addressing it. This was the start to knowledge and information sharing on HIV/AIDS, to the working class living in Karad.
In 2004, the trust had already begun to spread the message of the importance of healthcare and HIV prevention at workplaces. The trust began with 12 industries and 1,500 workers, and after the first year, set its sights on the workers of the Karad Municipal Corporation.
A research and need assessment study had indicated that workers from the drainage and sanitary departments were a high risk group. But given the sensitivity of the subject and the social stigma attached, it was important to create a positive environment and win the trust of the department and the workers.
The trust decided to build this atmosphere through community functions like Sankranti, when everyone came together in an atmosphere of conviviality. They distributed tilgul and diaries/booklets with information about HIV and health to workers of Karad Municipal Corporation.
However workers were still reluctant to open up and the management did not want to consider the formulating of official policies. The Kulkarni Charitable Trust never gave up and relentlessly pursued the matter with the management. They even identified a key person who was open to the idea and discussed the problem with staff members of the Municipal Corporation, which finally conceded that the trust should talk to the Deputy Collector.
The upcoming World AIDS Day organized by the trust, presented an opportunity for the Deputy Collector to be invited as a chief guest. His support to the cause and words of faith, changed the attitude of staff and the management. The trust had finally won its first battle.
But there were other problems. With the transfer of the Deputy Collector, who had been instrumental in supporting the good work being done by the trust, there were other roadblocks. The trust managed to convince the new Deputy Collector of the efficacy of the HIV/AIDS programs. Soon more industries came forward and joined the forum, formed policies and offered support for the program.
The Trust has facilitated the formation of a Red Ribbon Club with 15 small, medium and large scale industries in Karad. Some of the group members were Hindustan Mills, Pressmatic, Quadramatic, Sai Refrigeration and Shahjamatic industries. These industries have been pioneers and leaders in the workplace sector. But the icing on the cake was when Hindustan Mills formed their own Charitable Trust, Baba Vaidyakiya aani Samaj Kalyan Kendra.
Thus The Kulkarni Charitable trust and its tireless workers, from the top echelons to the grass root level, had successfully convinced people to join their movement against HIV/AIDS.