Caritas programme helps women with HIV rebuild lives in Delhi slums

Caritas India’s Gram Nirman initiative links HIV care with livelihood support, helping vulnerable families in East Delhi overcome stigma, access treatment and build stable incomes through women-led enterprises.

NEW DELHI  (Indian Catholic News) — A community-based HIV programme by Caritas India is helping vulnerable families access treatment, overcome stigma and earn stable incomes through women’s enterprises in the slums of East Delhi, according to a Caritas report.

India continues to face a major HIV challenge. According to the country’s health ministry, more than 2.5 million people are living with the virus, while thousands of new infections are recorded every year.

Statistics show the scale of the epidemic. But they often fail to capture the reality of those affected.

“Statistics reveal the scale of the challenge. They rarely reveal the lived reality behind it,” the March 7 Caritas report said.

For many people, HIV is not only a health condition but also a social stigma that can lead to silence, discrimination and isolation.

“For many individuals, HIV is not only a medical condition. It becomes a social label that brings fear, silence, and isolation,” the report said.

People living with HIV often face what the report describes as a double burden.

“One is the physical and emotional impact of the disease itself. The other is the stigma imposed by society.”

Fear of discrimination frequently prevents people from seeking treatment at government health facilities, worsening their health conditions.

“Fear of disclosure prevents many from seeking treatment at government health facilities,” the report said.

Without consistent medication, adequate nutrition and timely care, the report warns that “health conditions deteriorate rapidly”.

Vulnerability in urban settlements

The situation is particularly acute in the crowded urban settlements of East Delhi, where many residents are migrant workers struggling to survive on unstable incomes.

“The challenge is particularly visible in the crowded urban settlements of East Delhi, where migrant families from different parts of India struggle to survive in fragile economic conditions,” the report said.

Most households rely on informal daily labour such as factory work, street vending, construction jobs or driving auto-rickshaws.

Income is uncertain and often changes from day to day.

“Most households depend on daily wage work as factory labourers, street vendors, auto rickshaw drivers, construction workers, or helpers in roadside eateries. Income fluctuates daily.”

Urban slum residents also lack the economic safety nets that rural families may have through agriculture or livestock.

“Unlike rural communities that may rely on farmland or livestock, urban slum residents rarely possess productive assets.”

Women are typically the most vulnerable.

“Limited access to education and employment confines many to unpaid domestic work or low paid jobs as domestic workers in nearby residential colonies,” the report said.

Economic hardship also increases risks of exploitation and unsafe livelihood options.

Caritas programme links health and livelihoods

Since 2021, Caritas India, with support from Caritas Australia, has been running the Gram Nirman programme, a Caritas community development initiative, in 18 slums covering 65 sub-settlements in East Delhi.

The programme focuses on families affected by HIV by combining healthcare access with economic empowerment.

“Since 2021, Caritas India, with support from Caritas Australia, has been implementing the Gram Nirman programme across 18 slums covering 65 sub-settlements in East Delhi,” the report said.

Support includes medical referrals, counselling, treatment for opportunistic infections and home-based care.

“It includes identification and referral services, counselling, treatment for opportunistic infections, home based care, and linkages with government welfare schemes and entitlements.”

However, programme organisers stress that healthcare alone is not enough to restore dignity.

“Medical care alone cannot restore dignity. Economic independence must follow.”

Over the past two years, the programme has helped organise seven women’s collectives involving 75 women across different slum clusters.

“Over the past two years, the programme has mobilised seven women’s collectives involving 75 women across different slum clusters,” the report said.

Three of these groups have already established income-generating enterprises.

Women build enterprises and confidence

One such group is the Ekta Mahila Samuh collective in the Harsh Vihar settlement, which produces vermicelli and papad, a popular thin lentil-based crisp for neighbourhood shops while also stitching garments for local customers.

“Each woman now earns close to 300 rupees ($3.26) a day, or roughly 9,000 rupees a month,” the report said.

The additional income has brought stability to families that previously relied entirely on unpredictable daily labour.

Another collective, Suraj Mahila Samuh in Ashok Nagar, produces cloth carry bags and sells them at local markets.

“Members now earn between 1,500 rupees and 2,000 rupees each week,” the report said.

Beyond income, the groups provide solidarity and support for women living with HIV who often experience isolation.

“These collectives are far more than livelihood groups. They represent courage in the face of stigma,” the report said.

Women who once hid their condition now work together openly and support each other.

“Women who once lived in silence now work together, earn together, and support one another.”

According to Caritas, the programme’s approach is helping communities move beyond charity towards self-reliance.

“By linking healthcare support with economic empowerment, the Gram Nirman programme is creating practical pathways for social reintegration,” the report said.

In the narrow lanes of East Delhi’s settlements, the report concludes, small but meaningful changes are taking shape.

“Through skill, solidarity, and determination, women are rebuilding their futures.”