Pune: On the occasion of World Aids Day, celebrated on December 1, Positive Saathi, an online matrimonial website, along with some other NGOs, is arranging the matrimonial meet of HIV+ people in Kolhapur.

The event is an attempt to make the matrimonial process easier, an organiser said.

Around 1,300 registrations have already been received, where maximum participants are from rural areas. Over 70 per cent representation is by men. In order to increase the participation of women, the organisers have decided to reimburse the transportation cost to women. 

Anil Valiv, a government official from Pune, who is also the founder of Positive Saathi, said if these patients’ emotional and physical needs are not met, they can end up spreading the infection. 

“It is important to create a safe accessible platform for HIV positive people. We take due care that their identity is not revealed. In the meet, we offer doctors’ and lawyers’ consultation also. No fee is charged for anything,” said Valvi.

The organisation has arranged similar matrimonial meets in different districts of Maharashtra. “In the beginning, we did not get good response. It is only with effective publicity that people have started coming forward. Through different meets and the online site, we have seen over 300 successful marriages in the past few years,” said Valvi.

Various NGOs have also joined hands with Positive Saathi to work for this meet. These include Maharashtra State AIDS Control Society, VIHAAN, Rotary club of Kolhapur, RTO (Kolhapur), Anandwan De-addiction Center, etc. The meet is to be held on November 26 and registration for participants is free.