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Abstract
HIV epidemic brought a terrible toll on children and families worldwide. There are 25 million orphans in India from all causes, of which approximately two million may be attributed to HIV/AIDS. National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), Government of India, recently started focusing on orphan and vulnerable children (OVC) through Children Affected by AIDS (CABA) Pilot Scheme in 10 districts of the country including one district of Delhi. This study was conducted to describe the situation of OVC infected or affected by HIV/AIDS in Delhi and the process followed by Delhi State AIDS Control Society (DSACS) to enable grant of financial assistance to OVC infected or affected by HIV/AIDS from Government of Delhi and its implementation thereafter with overall objective of household economic strengthening of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV). The data during April 2010–March 2012 from nine antiretroviral treatment (ART) centers, CABA pilot scheme, and two institutions providing residential care to CABA in Delhi were analyzed. Total number of OVC in Delhi is estimated to be 1908 of which 766 are infected with HIV and 1142 are affected by HIV/AIDS. Through CABA Pilot Scheme, few OVC could be linked to existing Government Welfare Schemes due to lack of essential documents. Hence, DSACS planned a special financial assistance scheme for PLHIV to retain CABA in home-based care. In the first six months, 6.8% PLHIV, 11.7% children living with HIV/AIDS, 9% double orphan children infected with HIV/AIDS, 9% double orphan children affected by HIV/AIDS, and 68% destitute children infected with HIV/AIDS received benefit of the scheme. To maximize impact, efforts are being made to develop linkages of cash transfer households with other social service providers. Strength, Weakness, Opportunity & Threat (SWOT) analysis has been done with aim to improve the scheme. A national policy to address the cause of OVC infected or affected by HIV/AIDS is need of the hour.