In Meerut, 12 HIV positive boys have been given a new lease of life by a young couple. A close encounter with death promoted Ajay Sharma to look at life differently and encouraged him to transform lives. Supporting Sharma in this cause is his wife. The couple have adopted 12 HIV positive children abandoned by their families and brought them to their home in Meerut.
In the Ganganagar locality of Meerut, the house of many children is quite well known. “These children lost their parents due to this disease and then the society also shunned them,” says Sharma.
In 2004, Ajay Sharma suffered a brain hemorrhage and slid into coma for 15 days. After experiencing a close encounter with death, he says he understood the importance of being alive and decided to dedicate his life to underprivileged children. After seeing how society shunned HIV positive children, Sharma took it upon himself to give them home. However, it wasn’t an easy journey.
“I could not find a house on rent. People were vary that it would spread AIDS in the neighbourhood. But now they have started accepting them,” says Sharma.
Even as any help from the government is yet to arrive, the Sharmas are making sure that these children can enjoy their childhood. The neighbourhood helps them in raising these kids, says Sharma.
“There is now more support from the society. They reach out in times of need. Though, there is no support from the government,” says Sharma.
Ajay Sharma aims to continue his crusade. He hopes to grow his family and buy a bigger house where he can keep at least 50 children.
