Udaan Trust

Udaan Trust, founded in 1992, is an Indian non-governmental organization operating in the state of Maharashtra and the first HIV/AIDS organization founded by homosexuals living with HIV/AIDS.[1] Udaan focuses on issues of sexual health within the homosexual and transgender communities, particularly with regard to the prevention of HIV/AIDS. In order to accomplish this, Udaan provides services such as condom distribution, sex education, counseling, and medical services to at-risk populations.[2]

Udaan also attempts to increase awareness of issues relevant to the rights of homosexual and transgender individuals and people living with HIV/AIDS. The organization does not merely provide services to these individuals - it is meant to reflect their interests, as Udaan employs MSM, TG, and PLHA people (men who have sex with men, transgender, and people living with HIV/AIDS, respectively).[3] Each of the six members of the Board of Directors is a person living with HIV.

On March 7, 2011, officials of the U.S. Agency for International Development visited Udaan to conduct a review of its work.[4]

On March 13, 2011, Udaan donated two ambulances to the Gurdaspur police and staffed them with drivers and paramedics.[5]

Udaan is funded through personal donations, and attends to a network of an estimated 1500 people living with HIV.[1] It has offices in Mumbai, Pune, Thane District, Raigad District, Jalgaon, Nashik, and Ahmednagar.[6]

Udaan operates within the framework provided by Avert Society, a joint enterprise of the U.S. and Indian governments. It was among a number of similar organizations criticized as ineffective by India's National Aids Control Organization (NACO) in June 2011.[7]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 U.S. Agency for International Development: Directory of Associations of People Living with HIV/Aids, July 2004, accessed February 19, 2012
  2. ↑ Udaan Trust: Objective, accessed February 19, 2012
  3. ↑ Staff writer (June 24, 2002). "Udaan: Dedicated to problems of gays". The Times of India. Retrieved February 19, 2012.
  4. ↑ AVERT: USAID Team Visit, March 7, 2011, accessed February 19, 2011
  5. ↑ "2 ambulances donated to Gurdaspur police". The Tribune (India). March 14, 2011. Retrieved February 19, 2012.
  6. ↑ Udaan Trust: Projects, accessed February 19, 2012
  7. ↑ Sumitra Deb Roy (June 23, 2011). "AIDS work by 8 NGOs in state dubbed failures". The Times of India. Retrieved February 19, 2012.

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