Sitting cross-legged on the cement floor of a school for HIV-Positive children, 4-year-old Swati - one of the many Indian children infected with the deadly HIV virus - laughed excitedly, clicking the beads on an abacus.
In a first of its kind initiative, in the entire country and perhaps across the world, a school exclusively established to cater to the special requirements of HIV-positive children has opened it doors for this much-ignored section of young India.
The school catering exclusively to HIV-positive children is located in Karunalayam, 20 km away from Warangal city in Andhra Pradesh and roughly 125 km from the state capital - Hyderabad.
Presently, the school is home to 41 children, most of them orphans, who have demonstrated that they are no less intelligent and sharp than any of their counterparts elsewhere.
The school with its mission has put a question mark on the so-called mainstream schools' refusal to admit HIV-positive children.
Prior to this exclusive conclave-cum learning centre, the school administration sadly informed that seven of its students felt disappointed as they were not granted admission into the so-called main-stream schools in the last academic year.
Many of these children had to study in a library room in their previous schools since parents of other children objected to their presence.
Slowly and steadily, the school is progressing and gaining popularity in the region for its unique and noble efforts.
Swati, a student on TB drugs but with dazzling confidence, always sits in the front row of the class. She is just four years old but when asked about what she likes it here, pat comes the reply: a, aa, e, ee, eee and all other English alphabets in her sweet voice.
While in class, the chorus of kids' voices is surely ear-splitting but seems quite focused too.
Interestingly, when asked by the teacher to write something on the blackboard, each of the students wants to lay his/her hands on the piece of the chalk.
The school also provides a deep insight on various serious issues concerning HIV-positive students. Just ask Rajamma, a mother to an HIV-positive girl, whether she would like her daughter to study here or in any other better school and she instantly answers 'Here'; 'Outside', there is no respect, she clarifies.
The school not only takes extra care regarding the timings for the classes but also provides vitamins, antibiotics and other necessary medical care as and when required by kids.
