By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 25: Law Minister Lahkmen Rymbui on Tuesday clarified that his department has not yet received any draft of the proposed HIV/AIDS Bill.
“To the best of my knowledge, nothing has come so far. The parent department — Health or Social Welfare — must send it for vetting first,” Rymbui told reporters.
He said the draft will be processed as per procedure once it arrives. “If everything is in order, we will place it before the Cabinet, and if the Cabinet deems it fit, it will then be placed in the Assembly for necessary consideration,” he added.
Rymbui acknowledged the seriousness of HIV/AIDS in Meghalaya, which ranks sixth nationally, but also raised concerns about individual privacy.
“This is a very serious issue in our state. Having said that, we also need to examine whether addressing the menace of drugs or HIV requires intruding into the privacy of individuals. I need to study the legal aspects and understand how to approach it. As I said, it is too premature for me to comment since no such bill has reached the Law department yet,” he stated.
