About the company
Usha Martin Ltd. is a steel cable manufacturing firm in the state of Jharkhand, in the South East of India. Krishi Gram Vikas Kendra (KGVK) is a charity organization established by the company to undertake a variety of social and community projects in the community constituencies of the company, particularly women, truckers, migrant workers and other vulnerable populations. More than sixty percent of Usha Martin’s workforce of manual and unskilled labor consists of migrant labor, staying in the vicinity of the company.
HIV/AIDS in India
The epidemic in India has raised eyebrows because of the huge number of people living with HIV and AIDS. According to India’s National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), there were 5.1 million adults living with HIV or AIDS in the country by the end of 2004 – the second highest country case count after South Africa. India’s rate of infection is officially estimated between 0.4 and 1.3%, but in some areas (e.g. Mumbai) the rate is estimated to be as high as 4% according to unofficial soruces. Rapidly scaling up and mainstreaming prevention and care initiatives are imperative in India, including in the private enterprises, as proactive engagement into HIV/AIDS in the private sector remains piecemeal. Widespread stigma and discrimination present tremendous challenges to prevention efforts. The main mode of transmission is heterosexual sex and the epidemic is largely being driven by high risk groups such as long distance truck drivers and commercial sex workers (CSW).
Background
In January 2006, IFC and KGVK entered into an agreement to implement a project to generate awareness on the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS among the company’s factory workers, medical and clinical staff, and the communities around Usha Martin’s factories in two locations in the state of Jharkhand. Many of Usha Martin’s employees comprising mostly migrant manual and unskilled labor, stay in the vicinity of the company without their families. These mostly end up choosing CSWs as alternative partners. This group is very prone to STIs because of low awareness levels about STIs and low condom use.
In addition, every day 600 trucks enter Usha Martin factory premises, i.e. over 1,200 truckers and cleaners/helpers (all males also) transit in the area daily. Their nomadic life styles and constant job insecurities make them particularly vulnerable to a series of occupational hazards and health problems. This mobile population has little knowledge about STIs and HIV/AIDS and is considered a high risk group across South Asia. Factory workers are in continuous interaction with truckers, and Usha Martin’s factories are located near national highways.
Project details
The goal of the project is to generate awareness of STIs and HIV/AIDS and encourage prevention among factory workers, medical and clinical staff of Usha Martin Limited, and the communities around the factories, including the truckers visiting the factory areas on a daily basis. There will be two project locations: the Usha Martin factories in the state of Jharkhand, at Ranchi and Adityapur (near Jamshedpur) and their immediate vicinity. Each factory counts about 2,500- 3,000 employees.
KGVK is the project implementer. Although KGVK has already had some experience in STI prevention and HIV awareness interventions with truckers, this project will be the first time that a program is extended to company’s employees and clinical staff and is organized around all operational locations.
Project components
- Baseline behavioral survey of truckers and employees, through a representative sample of the respective target groups.
- A need assessment for the training of peer educators / “master trainers” who will be extracted from each of the target groups. Since more information is available about the knowledge and behavior of truckers from other existing projects in India, and through previous KGVK activities, a larger sample will be extracted from factory workers, with representatives at different levels within the hierarchy of the company.
- Training of peer educators and a peer education work plan.
- Behavior change communication (BCC) involving activities such as:
- One to one interactions within the target population.
- One to group interactions with the target population.
- Performances such as street plays.
- Availability of posters and pamphlets on STIs & HIV/AIDS.
- Availability of audio visual tools.
- Hoardings to be placed within the factory premises as well as in the surrounding areas of the factories.
- Treatment of STIs and availability of counseling about HIV/AIDS in the existing clinical facilities of Usha Martin.
- Condom promotion and availability, with condoms supplied by the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) and distributed for free, as well as condoms sold through social marketing channels; proper condom use education will ensured.
Nodal persons (i.e. focal points) from various departments of the factories, project implementing staff from KGVK, trade union leaders, community leaders, employee family members and outreach workers will be involved.
The project involves constant monitoring of project activities throughout the project life, and independent evaluation through an independent organization.
Expected project outcomes
- The senior management and stakeholders of Usha Martin are sensitized about HIV/AIDS. and aware about their roles and responsibilities towards addressing this issue.
- General health awareness among workers, their families and the community around them improves, including awareness about prevention measures and treatment of HIV/AIDS.
- Reduction in STI cases.
- Referral to voluntary counseling and testing centers.
- Knowledge on use of condoms among targeted populations.
- No discrimination on shop floor towards HIV/AIDS affected workers.
