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Melava+ : A matrimonial meet for HIV Positive people

Live Positive, Love Positive

On the occasion of Friendship Day, 1st of August 2010, Wake Up Pune held a matrimonial event for people living with HIV (PLHIV).The purpose of this event is to create a platform for people living with HIV to meet prospective partners for loving & caring relationship. Of the 165 candidates who came to meet, 123 were men and 42 were women. Breaking away from traditional atmosphere, candidates were introduced to each other by fun activities & games in a friendly atmosphere. By the end of the event, 12 couples had decided they would tie the knot soon while others were still in discussion.

We believe that living positively is more than just maintaining health; it is also about having hope for the future and finding happiness in the present. Every man and woman, HIV positive or not, has the right to find happiness in a loving and secure relationship. This matrimonial event will give an opportunity to those living with HIV to meet and to hopefully build lasting relationships built on mutual care and support.

Testimonials

Here is what people who attended the event had to say:

Indian Express:

For another 26-year-old working woman from Mumbai, the meeting was also an opportunity to meet other like-minded people. “Even if I am working in Mumbai, my employers are not aware of my HIV status,” she said in fluent English. An HIV positive widow with no children, she had also registered her name on the website and decided to try her luck in finding a life partner.

Urvashi, an HIV-positive widow from Hadapsar, who struggles to make ends meet with a six-year-old son was hoping to meet a widower with children at the meet. “At least we can understand our problems and jointly look after the children.”

DNA India

Another couple, Vijay and Sushma, decided to tie the knot. While Vijay is a bachelor, Sushma has a son and has lost her husband to the disease.
“I was ostracised by society. People have harassed me. I just could not think of marriage. However, thanks to this mela, I have found a life partner in Sushma,” Vijay said.
Sushma told DNA, “I needed a spouse. My son is being teased at school for not having a father Now my son will have a father”

IBN - Lokmat

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