Shimla, July 4 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh Monday asked the central government to provide pensions to people suffering from HIV/AIDS.

 
 “The central government should start a pension scheme for HIV/AIDS patients,” said an official statement quoting state Health Minister Rajeev Bindal.
 
 Bindal was speaking at a national seminar on HIV/AIDS in New Delhi.
 
 Responding to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's suggestion, he said the state government would consider providing employment to AIDS patients under MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act). “Twelve patients have been provided employment in the government sector,” Bindal said.
 
 He said that due to awareness campaigns, the HIV-positive infected rate has declined in the state from 2.4 percent to 0.8 percent.
 
 The state has 5,198 HIV positive cases, out of which 1,401 are AIDS patients.