There are conflicting reports about HIV/AIDS in India. But the experts largely agree that India has amongst the largest number of HIV infected people in the world, second only to South Africa. According to National AIDS control Organisation (NACO) the number of HIV infections in India in 2001 was 3.79 million which has been re-estimated to 2.47 million in 2007. The figure of 81 lakhs AIDS cases submitted by NACO to Parliament in 1998 has been subsequently scaled down to 38 lakh cases.
In most cases in India the infants or new born get infection through blood - via blood transfusions or needle sharing from mother to child. A pregnant woman can transmit the virus to her foetus through their shared blood circulation, or a nursing mother can transmit it to her baby in her milk
India has high percentage of street children, child workers and out of school children.
Several micro level studies in India on children and adolescents have shown high incident of sexual activity among them. It also indicated a perceived threat of HIV infection among children as main mode of transmission of HIV through sexual contacts
There are nearly 300,000 children in India who are engaged in commercial sex. According to Rita Panicker of NGO Butterfly apprxoimately18 million children work nr live on streets in India and a high percentage among them are sexually active.
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