Udaan Trust Explained

Udaan Trust is an Indian non-governmental organisation operating in the state of Maharashtra. It is the first HIV/AIDS organisation 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 organisation 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.

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.[4]

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 organisations criticised as ineffective by India's National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) in June 2011.[5]

History

Udaan Trust founded in 1992, in the state of Maharashtra.

On March 7, 2011, officials of the U.S. Agency for International Development visited Udaan to conduct a review of its work.[6]

On March 13, 2011, Udaan donated two ambulances to the Gurdaspur police and staffed them with drivers and paramedics.[7]

Notes and References

  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. News: Udaan: Dedicated to problems of gays . Staff writer . Staff writer . https://web.archive.org/web/20120509204822/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2002-06-24/pune/27309516_1_hiv-condoms-counselling . dead . May 9, 2012 . . June 24, 2002 . February 19, 2012.
  4. Udaan Trust: Projects, accessed February 19, 2012
  5. News: AIDS work by 8 NGOs in state dubbed failures . Sumitra Deb Roy . https://web.archive.org/web/20140201170201/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-06-23/mumbai/29693946_1_ngos-naco-hiv . dead . February 1, 2014 . . June 23, 2011 . February 19, 2012.
  6. AVERT: USAID Team Visit, March 7, 2011, accessed February 19, 2011
  7. News: 2 ambulances donated to Gurdaspur police . The Tribune (India) . March 14, 2011 . February 19, 2012.