Khalid – Reducing Vulnerability
Counsellor – People living with HIV/AIDS – STI – RTI
For the most Vulnerable segments

HOPE for the Hopeless – A self-assessment of Purpose in Life
My purpose for opting for study in the social sciences relates to my family, four
members of whom in a single generation were dedicated practitioners of modern
medicine in Uttar Pradesh with dilapidated infrastructure and questionable ethical
attitudes.

Uttar Pradesh during my childhood was a backward impoverished state despite the
glory of having the best of Universities and professional colleges of international
repute. Uttar Pradesh was also the home for Indian classical music and propagation
of religion; but from all this, poverty and the misery of destitute women dominated
the social scenario – the widows of Mathura, Vrindavan and Benares were all
reported worldwide.

It is needless to say that living in Meerut in a family of doctors, destitution and
disease in the economically weaker segments influenced my education from birth. I
realised at a small age that vast segments of society needed to be supported out of
there backwardness and, deprivation of their basic Rights and Entitlements.

This backwardness I concluded was politically and socially motivated through
religious practices to ensure that vast populations remained in slavery and servitude.
What good or curing could a doctor provide to a starved slave or a homeless, hungry
widow, abused – brutalised?

What was required was social justice – reformation from the core, a radical change in
our social practices and discriminatory caste practices that survived on abuse and
exploitation.

My struggle against bonded labour, disease and excluded widows from society
started from my college days and active involvement with non-governmental
organisations. It is here that I came across the problems of mentally retarded
children, especially girls. It came to my notice that there was no active government

anyone. This was a vast segment of vulnerable people who had been shoved under
the carpet.

I shifted the focus of my work and academic studies to the following areas which
were intertwined:

  1. Social Services in community organizations, non-profits, and government
    agencies as programme coordinators.
  2. Research Opportunities in research institutions, universities, and think
    tanks as researchers and data analysts.
  3. Public Policy: Positions in policy analysis, advocacy, and consulting for
    government or non-profit organizations.
  4. Human Resources in development training.
  5. Education: Teaching positions in schools or educational programmes
    covering social justice issues.
  6. Healthcare: Roles in public health, health education, or community
    outreach programs.
  7. Criminal Justice: Opportunities in law enforcement, corrections, or
    rehabilitation services, focusing on social behaviour and children in conflict
    with the law.
  8. International Development: Work with NGOs or international
    organizations on projects related to social change, development, and
    community building.

I find my very bitter struggle and confrontation with the contrary political
leadership forever self-serving has taken me through a career which has found
me fully involved with

  1. The national HIV/AIDS awareness programmes to include sexually
    transmitted disease (STD) and Reproductive Tract Infections
    (RTI) with DSACS, PSACS for over 20 years.
  2. Coordinating and Management of school and home-training/ home
    modifications for children with disability for improved movement in the
    social environment for over 12 years
  3. Disaster Management – including the Uttarakhand cloudburst of 2013-14

Khalid – Reducing Vulnerability
Leaving No one behind – in a self-serving world

. . . . . and a word from the Curator
Counsellor – People living with HIV/AIDS – STI – RTI
Delivering Health Services – Health Seeking Habits
A MIRACLE MAN – HOPE for the Hopeless

Our friend Khalid of the past 24 years is the man for all dire situations. His
entire experience is effective under extreme conditions of disaster and
devastation. Medical assistance where infrastructure is missing – Khalid is our
man, counselling of children in conflict with the law – call on Khalid, emergency
situations or natural calamities he is our friend when we have none, he is our
lead man when we have no resources, no support.

From support to mentally challenged children, people with disability, People
living with HIV/AIDS, STD and RTI – children living with HIV/AIDS and
STD, Sex workers as workers and an unending almanac and provider of
medical, psychological counselling and support in situations where there are
none

Khalid for us is a God-send, an uncut diamond coming in with unconditional
support and ever ready to pledge his all.

aurobindo
curator – ASJs