Mr. Bikas (name changed), a PLHIV from Gajapati district, Odisha was highly distressed when he got to know the HIV status of his wife and elder daughter nine months after his diagnosis in 2010. Due to prolonged depression he was irregular in his work and faced financial problems in the family. In 2010, through the support of the counselor at the Link ART centre, Mr.Bikas came to know about Madhu Babu Pension Yojana (MBPY) and applied for the same. In the past four years he did not get a positive response from the government.

After attending the demand generation meeting of Project Svavritti in October 2014, and under the guidance of the Additional District Social Welfare Officer and support from the Community Resource Person (CRP), he had once again re-submitted the application for his wife, daughter and himself. Due to regular ongoing follow-up and meeting of government officials by the CRP of Svavritti, his family received INR 29,900/- credited into his account. This money helped him and his family repay the loan taken for treatment purpose and the remaining amount put in fixed deposit as a security for future needs. The family now feels that they are able to live in peace without the tension of repaying any loan. Currently the head of the family is regular to his work and able to meet the daily requirements of his family.

There were many such families that benefited through the interaction with the government officials facilitated at the demand generation meetings. The pending applications were processed and benefits accrued to the community members. A few to be mentioned here are: i) Mr.Benia, (name changed) a 32 year old married PLHIV from Gajapati district, Odisha, a daily wage labourer, received the arrears of last three year pension amount of INR 11,000/- which was credited directly in his account; ii) Urmeela Pradhan (name changed), 37 year old a widow driven out from in-law’s house from Bhanjanagar block, Ganjam district, Odisha, got two installments of INR 30,000 (23rd July 2014) and INR 35,000 (23rdSept 2014) respectively after relentless follow up by CRP with the Block Development Officer (BDO), Department of Panchayti Raj and Rural Development and Social Education Organizer (SEO), Department of Women and Child Development. Additionally to what she got from the government she had pooled in some of her saving and constructed a house for her family. She is waiting for the final installment of INR 10,000 which she is yet to receive; iii) Ms. G. Mariamma (name changed) from Gajapati district, Odisha, a positive widow who has been driven out by her in-laws after the death of her husband, got INR 16,800 after similar continuous follow up with the concerned BDO and SEO.