SIAAP’s journey begins in 1990, when journalist Shyamala Nataraj challenges the illegal detention of women testing positive for HIV in Tamil Nadu on the grounds of gender discrimination and the violation of the right to consent. Over 600 women are released, and the Madras High Court rules that no person can be detained without their consent on grounds of HIV infection. This becomes national policy and pioneers a rights-based response to HIV prevention and care in India.
Since then, SIAAP has pioneered programs for HIV Prevention & Care, Multi-Dimensional Poverty among Youth, Sex Worker Rights, Children in Institutional Care, Female Foeticide, Sexual Consent, CBO Development, and Thrift Cooperatives. Many of these have been scaled up by the National/State Governments.
SIAAP envisions an India, where disadvantaged citizens, especially Women and Young People, can achieve their right to Safety, Health, Gender Equality, and Skilled Employment.
People living with Multi-Dimensional Poverty also want to have Safe, Healthy, Productive and Meaningful Lives. They can achieve this vision if we support them to strengthen their Resilience, Build upon their skills, Access quality services, Acquire Social Capital and Advocate with Governments for support.
Journalist Shyamala Nataraj challenges the illegal detention of HIV infected women in Tamil Nadu. The Madras High Court orders their release; over 600 women are freed, kicking off rights-based HIV prevention & care programmes in India.
Initiates HIV prevention with the World Health Organization (WHO); Registers Trust; Pioneers Peer-led HIV prevention & care among SWs,Truck drivers, Blind people, Transgender people, & PLHIV; Supports 200 NGOs to start HIV interventions in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu.
Develops 20 Community Based Organizations (CBOs); Pilots HIV/STDs counselling program at Royapettah Government Hospital, Chennai; Establishes short stay facility for HIV+ people and family members, Chennai.
Initiates Parent to Child HIV prevention programs with Tamil Nadu AIDS Control Society (TNSACS); Establishes first Community HIV counselling centre in Chennai; Establishes 20+ Thrift and Credit Cooperatives for Key populations; Develops Counselling guidelines for HIV+ children.
Establishes Community HIV counselling, Testing, and Access to ART for Key Populations across Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu; Establishes 52 Sexual & Mental health counselling centres for rural youth; Provides Employment Preparedness Training and Employment links for rural women.
Appointed to the Supreme Court expert panel on Sex Worker rights; Addresses female foeticide & infanticide among 7,46,800 at risk families in Andhra Pradesh.
Initiates research on Sexual Consent among Young People across India; Kicks off “Malargal” – an integrated program to address Multi-Dimensional Poverty among youth in urban slum resettlement habitats; Initiates Sports training to increase Mobility and Access to Public Spaces for adolescent girls; Pilots Alternate/Family-based care for Institutionalized children.
Addresses Gender Based Violence through Consent education; Supports implementation of Supreme Court directives on Sex worker rights; Pilots HPV screening and vaccination for adolescent girls in urban slum resettlement habitats.
Programme Management, Monitoring and Evaluation
Program Lead – Reintegration
Ph.D Population Studies
Administration and Accounts
Infrastructure and Logistics
Master’s in Sociology
Community Development, Capacity Building
Expressive Arts Therapy
Master’s in Sociology
Counselling Supervision, and Mentoring
Master’s in Sociology
Counselling, and Data Management
Diploma in Mental Health Counselling
Research, Policy Analysis
Master’s in Sociology
Advocacy, Crisis Intervention
Master’s in Human Rights
Organization Development, Research & documentation
Master’s in Social Work
Art Therapy, Crisis Intervention
Master’s in Psychology
Counselling, Advocacy
Community Outreach, Counselling
Bachelor’s in Business Economics
Community outreach, Crisis Intervention
Master’s in Business Administration, HR
Advocacy, Crisis Intervention
Community outreach, Counselling
Community outreach, Counselling
Diploma in Nursing
Data Management, Community leadership
Bachelor’s in Commerce
Community Leadership, Counselling
Data Management, Community Outreach
Bachelor’s in Physical Education
Programme Management, Monitoring and Evaluation
Program Lead – Reintegration
Ph.D Population Studies
Administration and Accounts
Infrastructure and Logistics
Master’s in Sociology
Community Development, Capacity Building
Master’s in Sociology
Counselling Supervision, and Mentoring
Master’s in Sociology
Counselling, and Data Management
Diploma in Mental Health Counselling
Research, Policy Analysis
Master’s in Sociology
Advocacy, Crisis Intervention
Master’s in Human Rights
Organization Development, Research & documentation
Master’s in Social Work
Art Therapy, Crisis Intervention
Master’s in Psychology
Counselling, Advocacy
Community Outreach, Counselling
Bachelor’s in Business Economics
Community outreach, Crisis Intervention
Master’s in Business Administration, HR
Advocacy, Crisis Intervention
Community outreach, Counselling
Community outreach, Counselling
Diploma in Nursing
Data Management, Community leadership
Bachelor’s in Commerce
Community Leadership, Counselling
Data Management, Community Outreach
Bachelor’s in Physical Education
