TN Govt. Consider providing monthly assistance to children with HIV: horses. Subramanian

Minister of Health and Family Welfare. Subramanian told the General Assembly on Tuesday that the state government will take steps to explore the possibility of implementing a plan to provide monthly financial assistance to children with HIV/AIDS in Tamil Nadu.

The minister is responding to Kadayanallur MLA C. Krishnamali, urging the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to implement such a program for the welfare of children with HIV.

Mr Subramanian said the number of HIV/AIDS in Tamil Nadu is 1,57,908, with a total of 1,41,341 people providing free medical care at the 76 Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Centre operating in the state.

Currently, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare does not have a financial assistance program for individuals affected by HIV. However, through the Taxation Bureau, under the leadership of the Chief Minister Uzhavar Pathukappu ThittamHe said farmers affected by HIV were given a monthly pension of Rs 1,000.

In 2009, then Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi provided a trust fund of Rs 5 crore for children affected by HIV/AIDS. The fund has now grown to Rs 250 crore. According to the fund, nearly Rs 1.89 crore was spent in the fiscal year 2024-25 to support 7,618 children under the age of 18.

Regarding welfare schemes provided by the social welfare sector, financial aid has increased from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,200 for the elderly and disabled people from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500. The minister added that for those with 75 per cent of the disabilities it has increased to Rs 2,000.