Parliament Question: Service Conditions of HIV Programme Staff

GOVERNMENT OFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENT OFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 4813 TOBE ANSWERED ON20th MARCH, 2026 SERVICECONDITIONS OFHIVPROGRAMME STAFF 4813. SHRIKONDAVISHWESHWAR REDDY: Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE pleasedtostate: (a) whether the Government is aware that counsellors and other staff working under National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) and State AIDS Control Societies, including Telangana State AIDS Control Society, have rendered more than two decades of service in the HIV sector despite stigma and occupational risk, if so, the details thereof; (b) whether pay revision during 2020–21 was extended only to Medical Officers under NACO-supported programmes and not to other staff and if so, the details thereof and if not,the reasons thereof; (c) whether the Government proposes uniform payrevision and implementation of seventh Central PayCommission normsfor all categories,if so, the detailsthereof; (d) whether any proposal for merger/regularisation of such employees with State Governments has been received along with the action taken by the Government in this regard; and (e) whether the Government proposes to provide equal pay for equal qualifications, risk allowance, insurance, increments, promotions, job security and enhancement of retirementage upto 65years, if so, the detailsthereof? A NSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATEIN THE MINSTRYOFHEALTHAND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT.ANUPRIYAPATEL) (a) Under the National AIDS and STD Control Programme, there are 279 Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) Centres, 1127 Designated STI/RTI Clinics (DSRCs), 4657 Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres (ICTCs), 848 Antiretroviral Therapy Centres (ARTCs) and 64 NACO owned Viral Load Laboratories operational across the StatesandUnion Territories inthe country. Counsellors and other programme staff are deployed at these facilities, as per programme requirements, to provide counselling and other services related to prevention, diagnosis and treatment of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).Recruitment of these staff is done by the respective State AIDS Control Societies (SACS). (b) Pay revision of all contractual staff under the National AIDS and STD Control Programmeisdone inevery 5 yearphase. Further, as there was large number of attrition and non-filling up of the ever-increasing vacancies of Medical Doctors (Senior Medical Officers/Medical Officers) in the Anti – RetroviralTherapyCentres(ARTCentres) sincetheAnti-RetroviralDrugs(ARVDrugs) are scheduled drugs which can only be prescribed by qualified Medical Doctors, the decision torevise remuneration of SMOs/MOswas taken in2020. (c) The Central Pay commission norms are applicable to the permanent Government employees. The contractual staff under the National AIDS and STD Control Programme (NACP) are appointed by respective State AIDS Control Societies on a consolidated monthly remuneration for a period of one year. Decision to renew employment of contractual staff after one year is taken by respective State AIDS Control Societies. (d) Merger/ Regularisation of contractual staff is a State subject. NACO issued a letter dated 4.8.2014 which stated that in case State Government intends to regularize the contractual staff,the Department hasnoobjectiontothe same contingenttothe factthat there shall be no additional financial liability on Central Government and it would be State’sresponsibility incase of dissolution of concernedStateAIDS Control Societies. (e) NACO has authorised States and UTs to engage staff under the NACP on contractual basis. These Contractual staff may be re-appointed by respective State AIDS Control Societies on the basis of the performance assessment that too as per the requirement of particularservice. *******