BENGALURU: He is India’s first gay prince who has spoken up for the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil from Ajmer, brand ambassador of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), shared his views on the status of the recently amended HIV Bill . Excerpts from an interview:What is the status of the bill’s implementation after the amendment? Do you think it has enabled state governments to keep track of HIV positive patients?Though the bill has been passed in the Parliament, implementation is very slow in states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. I think it will take some more time to sensitize the governments and the law enforcement authorities, especially because there’s a lot of stigma attached to the issue. A lot of work has to be done towards educating societyWhy do you think sensitization should be made compulsory among students?Students are the future of India. They should be sensitized through the curriculum. Usually, states with low literacy rates fare worse when it comes to dealing with HIV as compared to states like Kerala, where the literacy rate is high.Is there any stigma within the LGBT community ? Will the HIV Bill help reduce it?The discrimination increases if one is a transgender and is HIV positive as well. The LGBT population is still struggling for its rights, which have been denied by Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. Affirmation of these basic rights will help the community fight HIV. The government has to be educated first as the concept of transgenderism is still not clear in India.Has there been any improvement in the health condition of HIV positive sex workers and transgenders since the bill was introduced in 2014?Passing of the bill and adoption of strategies by AHF India like the introduction of a rapid testing method which gives the results in 10-15 minutes, have made detection easier. If adopted by the government, mass testing would be faster and effective. THe amended bill has given more rights to HIV positive individuals, including an insurance cover. Education, awareness, better testing methodologies and a strategic approach will help control this epidemic.