Haath Se Haath Milaa - India | The Communication Initiative Network

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Country

India

Region

Global, South Asia

Programme Summary

Haath Se Haath Milaa is a youth television show that was produced in north India by the BBC World Service Trust in association with Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) and National Aids Control Organisation (NACO). The aim of this 40-episode TV series was to create an unbroken human chain of 80 young people, joining their hands to raise awareness and to participate actively in the fight against AIDS.

Communication Strategies

Two caravan-style buses (one for participating girls and one for boys) journeyed through 5 Indian states picking up 2 young people (or "Humsafars") from each village visited. The Humsafars come from a variety of backgrounds, and included paan wala, boatmen, tailors, taxi drivers, mothers, and housewives. The young Humsafars joining the chain often faced strong opposition from their families and, at times, their entire village. Some of them were HIV-positive; organisers claim that the journey provided them with a platform from which to have their say.

The Humsafars aimed through the journey to increase awareness about the disease, create an AIDS charity anthem, and release a charity music album to raise money for the fight against AIDS. The record they produced, Lau (Flame), reached the top 10 of the music charts in 5 major Indian cities.

Development Issues

HIV/AIDS, Youth.

Key Points

The series culminated on February 26 2003, having reached 6,180,989 people. Of those, 634,788 said they had taken specific action as a result of the programme.