LWS Operational Guidelines

LINK WORKER SCHEME
OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES
National AIDS Control Organization

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Government of India
Link Worker Scheme Operational Guidelines
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K. Sujatha Rao
Additional Secretary & Director General
National AIDS Control Organisation, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India
Foreword
9th Floor, Chandralok Building, 36 Janpath, New Delhi 110001 Phone : 01123325331 Fax : 01123731746
Email : asdg@nacoindia.org
viuh ,pvkbZoh voLFkk tkusa( fudVre ljdkjh vLirky esa eq¶r lykg o tk¡p ik,¡A
Know your HIV status; go to the nearest Government Hospital for free Voluntary Counselling and Testing.
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INTRODUCTION
The Link Worker Scheme proposed under National AIDS Control Programme III has been
designed specifically to address populations with highrisk behaviours (including High Risk
Groups and Bridge Populations) with the premise that there are significant numbers in rural
areas and we needs to be reach out to them in order to saturate the coverage of these groups.
In addition the Scheme will cover young people.
The Operational Guidelines for the Link Worker Scheme have been designed to help the key
functionaries of SACS, DAPCU and NGO in implementing the Scheme. The Guidelines present
the framework for what to implement and how to implement. In preparing these Guidelines,
thought has been given to Statespecific variations in capacities and needs that may influence
the rollout of the Scheme. Implementers are urged to conceptualise the ‘how’ part to best
respond to the risks and vulnerability patterns specific to their State and Districts.
These operational guidelines are supplemented by the Training Manual, Handbook and Job
Aids, which are intended to strengthen the rollout of the Scheme at different levels.
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List of Acronyms
AIDS : Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome
ANM : Auxiliary Nurse Midwife
ART : Anti Retroviral Therapy

ASHA : Accredited Social Health Activist
AWW : Anganwadi WorkerWorkers
BCC : Behavioural Change Communication
CBO : Community Based Organisation

CHC : Community Health Centre
CSO : Civil Society Organisations
DAPCU : District AIDS Prevention and Control Unit

DHM : District Health Mission
DOT : Directly Observed Treatment

DRP : District Resource Person
EAG : Empowered Action Group
EOI : Expression of Interest
GP : Gram Panchayat
HIV : Human Immunodeficiency Virus
HRGs : High Risk Groups
HRIs : High Risk Individuals

ICDS : Integrated Child Development Scheme
ICTC : Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres

LW : Link Workers
MoHFW : Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
MoHRD : Ministry of Human Resource Development
Monogamy : Monogamy is the custom or condition of having only one mate.

MoYAS : Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
MPW : MultiPurpose Health Worker

NACO : National AIDS Control Organisation
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NACP : National AIDS Control Programme

NFHS : National Family and Health Survey
NGO : Non Governmental Organisation
NIPCCD : National Institute for Public Cooperation and Child Development
NRHM : National Rural Health Mission

PHC : Primary Health Centre
PLHAs : People Living with HIV/AIDS
PPTCT : Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission

PRI : Panchayati Raj Institution
RCH : Reproductive and Child Health
RHS : Rapid Household Survey

RRC : Red Ribbon Clubs
SACS : State AIDS Control Society
SC : Scheduled Caste
SC : SubCentre
ST : Scheduled Tribe
STI : Sexually Transmitted Infections

TI : Targeted Interventions
TRI : Technical Resource Institutions
VCTC : Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centre

VHSC : Village Health and Sanitation Committee
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Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION TO NACP III ................................................................................ 1112
1.1 Background ................................................................................................................. 11
1.2 Goal of NACP III ......................................................................................................... 11
1.3 Programme Priorities .................................................................................................. 12
2. RATIONALE FOR LINK WORKERS IN NACP III ............................................... 1316
2.1 Prevention and Treatment Needs in Rural Areas ................................................... 13
2.2 Definition of Link Workers ........................................................................................ 14
2.3 Existing Health Functionaries in the Public Health ................................................ 14
System
2.4 Objectives of the Link Worker Scheme ..................................................................... 15
2.5 Expected Outcomes of the Link Worker Scheme .................................................... 16
3. MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL ............................... 1730
3.1 The Implementation Agency ..................................................................................... 17
3.2 Institutional Structure ................................................................................................ 18
3.3 Technical Resource Institutes (TRIs) ......................................................................... 20
3.3.1 Criteria for a National TRI ............................................................................... 20
3.3.2 Criteria for a State TRI ..................................................................................... 20
3.4 Selection and Responsibilities of DRP ...................................................................... 20
3.4.1 Selection Criteria ............................................................................................... 20
3.4.2 Selection Process ............................................................................................... 21
3.4.3 Roles and Responsibilities ................................................................................ 21
3.4.4 Suggested Work Schedule ................................................................................ 22
3.5 Selection and Responsibilities of Supervisor ............................................................ 23
3.5.3 Roles and Responsibilities ................................................................................ 23
3.5.4 Suggested Work Schedule ................................................................................ 24
3.6 Selection and Responsibilities of Link Workers ....................................................... 24

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3.6.3 Roles and Responsibilities ................................................................................. 25
3.6.4 Suggested Work Schedule ................................................................................. 27

3.7 Selection and Responsibilities of Volunteers ............................................................. 28
3.7.1 Selection Criteria and Process .......................................................................... 28
3.7.2 Roles and Responsibilities ................................................................................. 28
3.8 Areas of Convergence ................................................................................................. 28

3.9 Work Stations ............................................................................................................... 30
4. CAPACITY BUILDING ................................................................................................. 3135
4.1 Training for DRPs and Supervisors ........................................................................... 32
4.2 Training for Link Workers .......................................................................................... 32
4.2.1 FollowUp Training ........................................................................................... 32
4.3 Keeping the Workforce Motivated ............................................................................. 32
4.4 Dealing with Attrition ................................................................................................. 33
4.5 Training Resources ...................................................................................................... 34
5. MONITORING AND EVALUATION ....................................................................... 3640
5.1 Programme RollOut Indicators ................................................................................. 36
5.2 Programme Objective Indicators ............................................................................... 37
5.3 Reporting Channels ..................................................................................................... 40
6. COSTING AT DISTRICT LEVEL ................................................................................ 4142
6.1 Costing for One District .............................................................................................. 41
6.1.1 Personnel Costs .................................................................................................. 41
6.1.2 Training Costs .................................................................................................... 41
6.1.3 OneTime Costs .................................................................................................. 42
6.1.4 Recurring Costs .................................................................................................. 42
6.2 Costing for 25 Districts ................................................................................................ 42
6.2.1 Total for one district per year ........................................................................... 42
LIST OF ANNEXURES ............................................................................................................ 4392
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INTRODUCTION TO NACP III 1

1. Background
The HIV epidemic in India is heterogeneous, with diverse modes of infection, particularly in
southern and northeastern states, namely, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh,
Maharashtra, Nagaland and Manipur. There is increasing evidence to suggest that India’s
epidemic is being driven by sex workerclient interactions, except in the NorthEast where
injecting drug use is clearly the major mode of spread infection (although there too sexual
transmission is increasing). There is evidence of increasing drug use in some other regions too.
The Indian epidemic continues to be concentrated in populations with highrisk behaviour
characterized by unprotected sex, anal sex and injecting drug use with shared injecting
equipment. Several highrisk groups have high HIV prevalence, and sexual networks are wide
and interlinked. However, these groups are not isolated communities but often mixed up with
other sub populations. 57% of the total HIV infections are in rural areas.
In the general population, women and young people are becoming increasingly vulnerable to
the infection. According to 2005 sentinel surveillance findings, 38.4% of those living with
HIV are women. In many states, more and more monogamous women are getting infected
by their husbands. The male to female ratio of infected persons indicates an increasing
feminisation of the epidemic. As in many other countries, unequal power relations and the
low status of women, as expressed by limited access to human, financial, and economic assets,
weakens the ability of women to protect themselves and negotiate safer sex, thereby increasing
their vulnerability.
Similarly, HIV and AIDS disproportionately affect young people. Young people comprise almost
50 percent of the new HIV infections, and nearly 32 per cent of reported AIDS cases till 31
August 2006 were in the 15 to 29 years age group1. Their risks vary with culture, age, sex and
individual circumstances. It is increasingly apparent that the key to turning back the pandemic
is to enable young people to protect themselves against its transmission
However, the low rate of multiple partners and concurrent sexual relationships in the wider
community seems so far to have, protected the wider population with 99% percent of the adult
Indian population being HIV negative. To reduce the overall level of the epidemic, it will be
important to saturate the coverage of the HRGs as well as expand the coverage of the bridge
populations and populations at varying levels of risk.
NACP – III envisages expanding the coverage of high risk groups (HRGs) to 80% during the
programme period.
1.2 Goal of NACP III
The goal of NACP III is to reverse the epidemic in India over the next 5 years through integration
of prevention and treatment programmes. This will be achieved through:
1. Prevention of new infections in high risk groups and vulnerable populations through:
a) Saturation of coverage of high risk groups with Targeted Interventions (TIs)
b) Scaled up interventions among other vulnerable populations
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2. Increasing the proportion of persons living with HIV/AIDS receiving care and treatment
3. Strengthening the infrastructure, systems and human resources in prevention and treatment
programmes at the district, state and national levels
4. Establishing nation wide strategic planning, programme management, monitoring and

evaluation system.
The vision of NACP III for vulnerable populations is to scale up interventions among these
groups, with the presumption that increased awareness, skills building, changes in attitude
and behaviour, and predominantly social change through communication, community
mobilisation and advocacy, will result in the adoption and maintenance of sustaining safe
behaviours and reduction of risk.
1.3 Programme Priorities and Thrust areas
NACP III places the highest priority on preventive efforts while, at the same time, seeking to
integrate prevention with care, support and treatment.
Subpopulations that have the highest risk of exposure to HIV will receive the highest priority
for intervention. These include sex workerworkers, men who have sex with men and injecting
drug users. Other groups which are highly vulnerable to HIV infection are long distance truckers,
migrants (including refugees), prisoners and street children.
The HRG1 in the rural areas (based on district mapping ) will be addressed through the Link
Worker Scheme. These groups are:
n Sex worker (FSWs) and clients of the sex worker
n Men who have sex with men (MSM)
n Injecting drug users (IDUs)

The following bridge populations will also be addressed:
n Truck drivers/cleaners and

n Migrant worker
Vulnerable young people may belong to the above groups and could also be partners/spouses
of migrants, mobile populations and IDUs. Young girls/women in women headed households,
persons infected and affected by HIV, particularly in the context of stigma and discrimination
and their linkage to care , support and treatment may also be vulnerable. These sub populations
too will also be addressed by the Link Worker Scheme.
1
Finding women and men with risk behaviours in clusters/groups may not be possible in a village setting. For this
reason the guidelines will refer to them as High risk Risk Individuals (HRIs) or High Risk groups Groups (HRGs) as
found appropriate.
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RATIONALE FOR LINK WORKERS IN NACP III 2

2.1 Prevention and Treatment Needs in Rural Areas
Unlike in subSaharan Africa, India’s HIV epidemic is still concentrated among high risk
population groups, requiring a focused approach. Mapping data suggests that the sex work
population is not brothel based and is increasingly becoming street based and home based,
with a larger number coming from the rural hinterland to the urban areas. Migration is yet
another important source of infection transmission in rural areas. Evidence suggests that single
male migrants are an important bridge population in carrying the infection from urban to rural
areas. Common to the sex worker or the male migrants going to the urban areas is the poverty
and lack of economic opportunity in the rural hinterland. Rural mapping done in Karnataka
(2005) also shows that these highly vulnerable and mobile groups are not reached by any
interventions, as most Targeted interventions implemented by NGOs’ are urban centric.
Therefore, in order to saturate all high risk and highly vulnerable groups with prevention
and essential services, there is a felt need to establish an appropriate low cost structure that
could provide prevention, care and support services to them.
There is equally robust evidence that more than one third of new infections are happening in
young people. Their lack of knowledge and poor access to youth friendly services predisposes
them to sexually transmitted infections and HIV. Stigma and discrimination surrounding HIV
continues to be a major challenge, more so in the rural context. This results in poor access and,
gender inequality, and above all in infection going undetected or treated by unqualified
practitioners.
There is an urgent need to destigmatise HIV infection through effective community dialogue.
With increased risk perception and diminished stigma, utilisation of the health infrastructure
is expected to be strengthened under NACP III. Link worker scheme hopes to address this
competent in rural areas.
Over 57% of the HIV infected persons in India live in the rural areas. A Rural Situational Needs
Assessment study that was carried out by Karnataka Health Promotion Trust and Swasti Health
Resource Centre in seven Districts of Karnataka, observed villages having a higher
margianalisized population groups, entering into sex worker to earn income and thereby
increasing their risk to HIV. The study also showed that about 20% of sex workerworkers lived
in half the villages. The scattered nature of the key population and its inaccessibility due to
poor communication and transport network pose a great challenge for reaching out to all HRG
populations.
An outreach strategy through Link Worker Scheme has been carefully crafted based on
District specific needs optimising local resources.
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2.2 Definition of Link Workers

The Link Worker Scheme envisions a new cadre of worker, the Link Worker, to be introduced
at the village level. Link Workers will be motivated, communitylevel, paid female and male
youth workers with a minimum level of education. A Link Worker is someone who is not
“alien” to the neighbourhood, is accepted by the village community, and who can discuss
intimate human relations and practices of sex and sexuality and help equip highrisk individuals
and vulnerable young people with information and skills to combat the pandemic.
The Link Workers will cover highly vulnerable villages in Districts selected through mapping
exercises, using criteria such as size of the population, number of sex Workers residing and
practising sex work in the village and number of PLWHA in the village (see Annexure 1,
Community Outreach through the Link Worker Scheme The Bagalkot Experience, and
Annexure 2, Rapid Mapping of HIV Risk in Rural Areas). They will work in each cluster of
villages around a 5,000+ population village which will serve as the node for this subgroup
intervention. They will be supported in their work by villagelevel volunteers selected from the
available groups in the community.
Tools
Annexure 1, Community Outreach through the Link Worker Scheme – The Bagalkot Experience
Annexure 2, Rapid Mapping of HIV Risk in Rural Areas
2.3 Existing Health Functionaries in the Public Health System

The Government health systems are distributed on a population norm throughout the country.
The Subcentre is the most peripheral level of contact with the community, catering to a
population norm of 5,000, but it effectively serves a much larger population. The available
basic workers with direct contact with the rural population are ANM, MPW, ASHA and AWW.
Rural health care in most States is marked by absenteeism of doctors/health providers, low
levels of skills, shortage of supplies, inadequate supervision/monitoring, multitasking and too
high expectations of ANM and ASHA. HRGs are not really the focus of these functionaries and
mostly get left out of the gamut of activities and programmes coordinated by the existing basic
health and nutrition functionaries. This is also true for vulnerable populations, especially
unmarried youth who are at varying levels of risk. Issues like relationships, safe sexual practices
and condoms, which are pivotal for addressing the HIV epidemic, are not adequately tackled.
This is both because of limited skills to address these issues and the fact that reaching out to
HRGs and other highly vulnerable populations is not the overarching objective of the available
basic health workers.
It has also been seen that increasing the responsibilities of the ANM reduces the amount of time
for community and outreach interventions. Only 4% of the evermarried women in NFHS II
report that they received information about AIDS from a health Worker other than a doctor.
31% received information from a friend or relative. According to RHSRCH II, 6.9% of women
received information about HIV/AIDS from a health Worker. The percentage varied by age
group among women, from a low of 5.9% among 1519 years to 7.9% among 2529 years.
Overall, among males, 7.8% learned about HIV from the same source, but the percentage went
down to 6.4% in the <25 years group.
The very nature of the AWW's job responsibilities (with an emphasis on supplementary feeding
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and pre school education) does not allow her to take up issues of sexuality, HIV/AIDS and
condoms aggressively.
The Reproductive and Child Health Programme remain women centric & women focused
while male involvement is only being sought. Most of the front line health personnel are female
with a starkly low presence of male counterparts. In the HIV/AIDS epidemic, males involved
in various highrisk behaviours are shaping the "feminisation" of the epidemic. It is unrealistic
to expect a female frontline workforce to counsel the males of rural India in HIV prevention,
given the traditional Indian social structures where discussion of aspects of sexuality and sexual
relations is taboo.
A closer analysis of the current responsibilities and target groups being served by various health
Workers (see Annexure 3, Available Frontline VillageLevel Workers) shows that HIV/AIDS is
not being adequately addressed. The HRGs that are key to the epidemic in India are left out of
the gamut of existing programmes. The Link Worker Scheme has been envisaged in order to
reach out to the scattered (and often invisible) highrisk populations in rural areas with a
comprehensive package of preventive services.
Lessons learnt from NACP II indicate that TIs so far are not linked to care, support and treatment
services. This gap has to be addressed in order to enhance adoption of safe practices by groups
with highrisk behaviours. The Link Worker will aim at bringing in this much needed linkage
and synergy with existing health services, many of which are under the NRHM (RCH II) domain.
Building on existing evidence and moving towards saturating the highrisk population in all A
and B Districts, the Link Worker Scheme will be implemented in a phased manner across the
country.
Tool
Annexure 3, Available Frontline VillageLevel Workers
2.4 Objectives of the Link Worker Scheme

The Scheme will generate a cadre of trained local personnel as Link Workers and volunteers to
work with HRGs and vulnerable young people and women in A and B Districts of India (see
Annexure 4, Number of A and B Districts in each State) towards the following:
1. Create an enabling environment for PLHAs and their families by reducing stigma and
discrimination through work with existing community structures/groups, e.g. Village
Health Committees, SHG, PRI, etc.
2. Reach out to HRGs and vulnerable young people (men and women) in rural areas (as
defined in Section 1.3 above) with information, knowledge and skills on STI/HIV prevention
and risk reduction.
3. Establish interlinkages between gender, sexuality and HIV and bring into focus factors
that enhance vulnerability of young people and women, both in HRGs and the general
population.
4. Promote increased and consistent use of condoms to protect against STIs and unwanted
pregnancy.
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5. Generate awareness and enhance utilisation of prevention, care and support programmes
and services (especially STI, ICTC, PPTCT, ART, DOT and other health services).
6. Facilitate the delivery of youthfriendly health and counselling services through existing
public health services/service delivery points.
7. Facilitate the reintegration of HRGs into the community and work with families against
trafficking of women and children.
Tool
Annexure 4, Number of A and B Districts in each State
2.5 Expected Outcomes of the Link Worker Scheme

n A cadre of trained local people the Link Workers and Volunteers
n Increase in knowledge about HIV transmission, risk behaviours, HIV prevention and
available health services among HRGs and vulnerable young people and women
n Increase in knowledge about HIV transmission, risk behaviours, HIV prevention and
available health services among community members/significant others (SHGs, PRI, VHC,
etc.)
n Increased use of condoms by HRGs, their partners and clients
n Increased utilisation of STI management, ICTC, PPTCT and ART services by HRIs/HRGs,
their partners and clients
n Increased access for young men and women to health services (e.g. STI management,
VCTC, ICTC, PPTCT)
n Reduced stigma and discrimination against PLHA and their families
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MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL 3

It is important to emphasise that the Link Worker Scheme is a process of social mobilisation to
reach peripheral communities, particularly where formal systems of communication such as
TV and radio have limited reach. Such social mobilisation is essential to ensure that these
villages/communities are protected from HIV infection. The underlying spirit therefore is
volunteerism. Yet previous efforts to mobilise communities have failed for want of an appropriate
structure to engineer and guide such enthusiasm. The Link Worker Scheme is an attempt to
provide a platform and an instrument to guide the community's response to the HIV/AIDS
epidemic.
To channel this effort a fourtier structure is proposed:

District Resource Person (DRP) Supervisor Link Worker Volunteers
The following sections provide details of the implementation mechanism, the different
functionaries and their mode of selection, roles and functions expected to be performed, capacity
building plan and the outcomes (indicators) proposed to be achieved.
3.1 The Implementation Agency

SACS may implement the Link Worker Scheme through DAPCU or consider engaging an
NGO in the implementation of the Scheme in A and B Districts where there is an NGO presence.
The NGOs should have considerable experience of SRH and HIV/AIDS with the capacity to
take on Districtlevel work. Existing partners of SACS may be considered.
The SACs should advertise EOIs from NGOs in two leading local dailies, one in English and the
other a vernacular newspaper. The EOIs should be shortlisted and the organisations contacted
for discussion, after which the interested organisations should be asked to submit a detailed
proposal with action plan. The operational guidelines for the scheme can be shared with them.
A committee should be constituted to review the proposals. This could constitute of SACs,
TRIs and Statelevel experts on HIV/AIDS. Involvement of NRHM officials will be extremely
helpful at this stage.
In the event of an NGO being the preferred implementing agency, its selection should be in
accordance with the NGO Selection Guidelines of NACO.
After selection, the head and other key members of the selected NGOs should be invited for a
twoday orientation workshop by SACS. The TRIs in partnership with SACS will be required
to conduct the orientation, during which the Link Worker Scheme and operational guidelines
should be fully explained. The NGOs should prepare the District action plan for implementation
of the Link Worker Scheme and timeline in this workshop. The members of DAPCUs/District
Health Committees wherever established should also be part of this workshop. The DAPCU/
District NGO will roll out the project in their respective Districts (see Annexure 5, RollOut
Plan¸ and Figure 1).
Tool
Annexure 5, RollOut Plan
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Figure 1. District Management Structure for Saturated Coverage by NACO/SACS
3.2 Institutional Structure

Census 2001 show that there are about 18,000 villages (termed as census towns) with a
population of 5,000 or more. These cover about 20% of the country's population. The total
number of personnel in the Scheme in the District will depend on the villages selected on basis
of the District vulnerability mapping.
The Link Worker will be the key personnel in the Scheme. The main responsibilities of outreach
to vulnerable populations/atrisk populations lie with him/her. S/he will be supported by the
District Resource Person (DRP), supervisor and volunteers. The volunteers will support the
fieldlevel activities of the Link Worker at village level. The DRPs, supervisors and Link Workers
will undergo intensive training to help them acquire knowledge and understanding of the
issues and their roles.
The Link Worker reports to the supervisor who will further report to DRP. The Monitoring
and Evaluation officer at the District AIDS Prevention and Control Unit (DAPCU) will work
in close coordination with the DRP and Supervisor. If an NGO takes on the implementation of
the Link Worker Scheme in the District, the DRP will report to the NGO.
The DRP, Supervisor & Linkworker would undergo intensive training & handholding to help
them acquire knowledge & understanding of the issue and their roles respectively.
See Figure 2 for a diagrammatic representation of personnel and their reporting responsibilities.
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Figure 2. District Management Structure for the Link Worker Programme
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3.3 Technical Resource Institutes (TRIs)

In order to provide technical support at the State level, it is proposed to identify National
Technical Resource Institutions (TRI) preferably with a regional presence, i.e. one each from
north and south India.
3.3.1 Criteria for a National TRI
Organisations/Institutions with a vast experience of working on reproductive and sexual

health and HIV/AIDS with communities and highrisk populations and conducting trainings
will be considered for appointment as TRI. Understanding of SRH issues related to vulnerable
young people and women in communities would be important. It is crucial for the TRIs to
have an inhouse resource team with experience of training related to highrisk groups and
sexual and reproductive health (including HIV) and a fair understanding of how to
mainstream gender and rights based approaches into activities at different levels of
intervention.
3.3.2 Criteria for a State TRI
Organisations/Institutions should have vast experience (at least five years) of working in
rural development in the particular State. The institute/NGO should have worked in any
of the issues related to community health, reproductive and sexual health, HIV/AIDS, rural
development and other various development related issues. Preference will be given to those
organisations having prior experience in training panchayati raj and/or youth/women.
Institutes with a strong working relationship with State government functionaries will be
encouraged. Technical skills in providing training/capacity building and research
documentation will be preferred.
For the initial year the two national level TRIs will carry out the trainings at the State level. It
is envisaged that within the period of one year, State TRIs will be identified in States where the
LWS will be implemented and the two National TRIs will build capacities of the state TRIs. The
first round of training will be intensive and will include DAPCU, NGO, DRPs and supervisors.
The National TRI will also conduct joint training with State TRIs and NGOs.
These TRIs will work in close coordination with SACS and NACO (with proposed National
Programme Officer Youth). They will partner with them to conduct trainings of DRPs and
lend support for building capacities of Link Workers and supporting in implementation of the
Link Worker Scheme at District level. The modules and Job Aids designed under the scheme
and approved by NACO will be used by the TRIs to impart trainings, with the possibility of
adapting them at the regional level.
To ensure standardized quality of the training among the State TRIs, a thirdparty evaluation
will be carried out.
3.4 Selection and Responsibilities of (DRP) District Resource Person

3.4.1 Selection Criteria
n One DRP should be selected in each District
n Should possess Masters degree in Social Work or an equivalent degree from a recognised
university
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n Should have minimum of 35yrs of experience in rural development work

n The rating will be as follows:
q Merit: 20%. Qualifications, the university from where the course/degree has been
acquired, marks, any other professional courses or training related to the job.
q Interview: 20%. This will assess knowledge of HIV/AIDS, sexuality and gender;
understanding of community mobilisation; knowledge of organisational skills;
communication skills and comfort level in discussing issues of sexuality and HIV.
Should be familiar with team management and monitoring and evaluation.
q Written test: 20%. In the written test a candidate can be asked to write a page on
topics such as Feminisation of HIV/AIDS or HIV/AIDS and Young people, etc. This is
to assess skills in analysis and documentation.
q Any previous experience of work and training: 20% (work with HRGs and vulnerable
young people and women).
q Good understanding (written and spoken) of local language: 20%.
n HIV positive people, especially positive women, with the required qualifications and
experience should be given preference.
3.4.2 Selection Process
n Advertisement should be placed in leading dailies, one English and one vernacular.
n Selection of DRP will be performed by DAPCU/NGO/SACS.
n Final list is to be drawn up on the basis of merit after screening, shortlisting and interview.
The final selection should be done by a committee constituted by SACS in partnership
with District Health Committees constituted under NRHM.
n In event of an NGO implementing the scheme, a minimum of two persons must be co
opted in the selection committee from the District Health Committee /DAPCU.
The SACS in the States where this scheme is being implemented should evolve a monitoring
and coordination mechanism wherein they meet with DRPs at regular intervals to assess their
work and support them wherever needed. Efforts should be made to integrate the DRPs in the
ongoing work of SACS and DAPCU at the District level especially with the ongoing TIs. This
involvement will give the DRP the larger picture of the SACS work under NACP III and will
prevent the Link Worker Scheme from becoming a vertical scheme in the District.
3.4.3 Roles and Responsibilities
n Train and induct newly recruited supervisors/Link Workers or their replacements. Assess
the knowledge of supervisors and Link Workers and identify needs for refresher and follow
up training.
n Review, monitor and provide supportive supervision to supervisors and Link Workers
n Support development of communication campaigns at the district level and their effective
implementation with a focus on creating an empathetic and nonabusive environment.
SACS will develop, collate and adapt materials facilitated and supported by TRIs and help
develop a communication plan.
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n Establish linkages with Department of WCD, Rural Development, Social Justice and
Empowerment, Education, etc. Promote convergence with ongoing programmes of different
ministries, such as Adolescent Friendly Health Services being envisaged under the RCHII.
This will help to create a better environment for networking care and support of HRIs and
vulnerable young men and women.
n Promote availability of condoms at PHC

n Bring connectivity with Red Ribbon Clubs’, wherever established
n Keep the Supervisors and Link Workers motivated
n Compile supervisors' reports and provide necessary data to DAPCU/NGO

n Facilitate other training organised by SACS at the District level
n Play a strong role in advocacy and creating an enabling environment at District level
Apart from his/her role in Link Worker Scheme, the DRP will also be involved in training of
service providers and basic health functionaries under NRHM. Issues of HRIs and young
people can thus be integrated in other ongoing programmes.
3.4.4 Suggested Work Schedule
The morning half day can be spent monitoring visits and linkages. In the latter half of the day
s/he should take care of administrative responsibilities; documentation; development of
materials such as communication tools, materials for dissemination, etc.
Week One
Day Action
Monday Visit to DAPCU/NGO reporting organisation.
Tuesday Monitoring visit to the village/block. This visit
should be utilised to meet with key stakeholders,
local functionaries and volunteers.
Wednesday There should be two onetoone meetings every
month with key District health functionaries
from departments mentioned earlier.
Thursday Monitoring visit to the village/block.
Friday (there should be four to six n Visit to ICTC, STI Clinic, ART, CCC,
visits to ICTC, STI clinic, PHCyouth youth corners at PHC
corner. Each of these should be n Any follow up visits needed to the
covered at least once every month) field areas
Saturday Meeting with supervisors and preparing the
weekly action plans
DRP should on a regular basis attend meetings of District Health Committee, ICDS supervisors
etc after developing the desired linkages.
1
This is a scheme under NACP III to open clubs for young people in campus and community. It aims to converge
with Dept. of Youth Affairs and Sports, MoYAS, and Dept. of Higher education, MoHRD. The RRCs in question are
perceived as clubs for young people at the village level and will be a source of edutainment.
– 22 –
The same schedule can be repeated in the remaining three weeks. The last two or three days of
each month should be devoted to conducting meetings with Link Workers and supervisors and
reviewing their progress. The first two or three days should be used to compile a combined
report for the District. Once every three months, the DRPs should provide an indicator based
report to DAPCU/NGO. By the 5th of every month, the compiled report should be forwarded
to DAPCU/NGO for further reporting to SACS.
3.5 Selection and Responsibilities of Supervisor
The Supervisor is to be selected using the following criteria:

n Be a resident preferably of the same District or neighbouring District, who can understand
the realities in the District
n Must possess at minimum a graduate degree

n Must possess the following skills:
w Communication and Documentation skills
w Analytical and comprehension skills
w Motivation and team spirit
n Previous experience in rural development work will be an added advantage
The process of identification of the supervisor needs to be initiated before the training of Link
Workers. The supervisor shall be a person from the District who is professionally qualified to
guide and supervise the link Workers. One supervisor will be responsible for 10 Linkworkers.
S/he shall be selected at District level by NGO/DAPCU.
n Support responsibilities of Link Worker in a smaller geographical area

n Guide the Link Workers in the villagelevel household mapping
n Ensure regular supply/availability of condoms at the Primary Health Centre and youth
corners
n Orient ANMs, MPWs, AWWs and ASHA about HIV/AIDS.
n Facilitate and strengthen the STI related work being undertaken by other Basic Health
functionaries.
n Facilitate formation of condom depots. Ensure timely supply of condoms in intervention

areas.
n Support the functioning of youth corners in PHC

n Establish linkages for services. Work towards convergence at the block level with Health,
Education and Pancahyati Raj Institutions.
– 23 –
n Receive and compile reports of work done by Link Workers

n Monitor and assure a minimum standard of output expected of Link Workers
Week One
Day Action
Monday Visit to the village for strengthening of Link
Workers for intervention/mapping exercises
Tuesday Meeting with DRP/Districtlevel meeting for
programme update.
Wednesday Visit to the village for direct intervention for
intervention/mapping exercise
Thursday Work on available reporting formats and
prepare feedback to District level
Friday n Visit ICTC, STI Clinic, and youth corners
at PHC or any other services where the
Link Workers need support for
strengthening linkages.
n Weekly report
Saturday Meet all Link Workers under his/her supervision
for technical support, addressing concerns,
strengthening documentation through reporting
formats.
The same schedule can be repeated in the remaining three weeks. The 25th/26th of every
month (if a holiday, then a day before or after) should be devoted to conduct meetings with
Link Workers. Following this they should prepare field reports for their own intervention area,
compile Link Workers report and attend the meeting organised by DRP.
3.6 Selection and Responsibilities of Link Worker
n Women/men in the age group of 2029 yrs. This age group is recommended as many
HRIs, especially in sex work and drug abuse, are young women and men.
n Should have completed 1012th grade. It is not advisable to take highly qualified people as
their retention and job satisfaction may be a challenge.
n The rating will be based on a written test and interview:
w Written test: 30%. This will assess knowledge on HIV/AIDS and sexuality issues.
w Interview: 30%. This will assess understanding of community mobilisation,
knowledge of organisational skills, communication skills and comfort level in
discussing issues of sexuality and HIV.
– 24 –
w Any previous experience: 20%. Antecedents such as experience as Peer Educator,

prior experience of working with other health/HIV related programmes or other
development programmes.
w Merit: 20%. Educational qualification and marks obtained by the candidate. No
extra merit will be given to people who are more qualified.
n Should be a resident of the same 5,000 population cluster for which s/he is selected.
n Preference to be given to Self Help Group members of youth clubs, farmers club, weaker
sections.
n PLHA, especially HIV positive women, with the required qualifications and experience
should be given preference.
n The supervisor will be involved in the District mapping to identify vulnerable villages at
the District level. During the course of the mapping exercise the supervisor should
endeavour to identify potential Link Workers from the pool of persons engaged in mapping.
Those persons shortlisted by the supervisor will be graded and subsequently interviewed
by a Districtlevel committee for the post of Link Worker.
n The screening committee for Link Workers should comprise members of the Village Health
and Sanitation Committee and members of Self Help Groups. (This is a suggested list. A
quorum of three people should suffice for the screening and shortlisting process.)
n Proof of birth date and residence is required for all Link Worker applicants.
n Final list is to be drawn up on the basis of merit after screening, shortlisting and interview.
The final selection should be done by the DRP, and wherever possible either the medical
officer of the PHC or the Panchayat Samiti Adhyaksh at the block level should be involved.
Contracting of Link Workers will be ratified by DAPCU/NGO implementing the Link Worker
Scheme in the district, on the basis of recommendations made by the screening committee and
verification of documents attached: educational qualifications and proof of residence. Due
consideration must be given to caste/class/sex in finalising the appointments.
The main responsibilities of the Link Worker include enhancing access to information and
services related to HIV prevention and relevant sexual and reproductive health issues (such as
STIs), through a gendersensitive approach among HRGs and vulnerable young people in the
community (e.g. partners/spouses of migrants, mobile populations, IDUs, girls/women in
womenheaded households, etc.). This should involve participatory learning processes rather
than mere information delivery. Besides dissemination of information, Link Workers will establish
linkages between these populations and the continuum of services. Link Workers will report to
Supervisors.
It is expected that the Link Worker will undertake activities to facilitate interventions with
HRIs who are part of the general population. S/he will also work with vulnerable young
people in the community. Although HRIs are the prime target for the Link Workers, the Link
Worker is expected to establish rapport with the communities and understand the specific
vulnerabilities in that particular location (villages) in order to reach HRIs. In addition, it is
– 25 –
equally important to recognise and address the concerns of vulnerable populations like young
people and women, so that they develop a perception of selfrisk and can take appropriate
steps to reduce individual risks.
It is also crucial that the Link Worker is seen as a functionary working with different sub
populations in the community; otherwise there is a risk of perpetuating stigma against the
small number of so far hidden or invisible HRIs.
Key responsibilities for Link Workers have been identified based on the understanding of the
roles of different basic health functionaries (see Annexure 3). They include:
n Conduct villagelevel household mapping (vulnerability mapping, community resource
mapping, health services/facility mapping, household mapping (see Annexure 6, Mapping)
n Understand the migration patterns (both in and out migration) in the local community
n Reach out to the unreached HRIs/groups and vulnerable young people with information
and skills relevant to HIV prevention and risk reduction
n Provide relevant information regarding condom use, using innovative means that are
contextually, locally and culturally appropriate
n Provide youthfriendly counselling/advice (maintaining confidentiality, privacy and non
judgmental attitude) to young people and women in the community
n Work towards reducing stigma and discrimination in the community by facilitating
involvement of HIV positive people, community groups like SHGs, PRI and VHC, and
bringing into focus and addressing gender dimensions of stigma and discrimination. Tools
like stepping stones can be used.
n Advocacy with identified stakeholders for creating an enabling environment (and reducing
stigma and discrimination)
n Recognise the rights of HIV positive people and HRIs and create more awareness regarding
these rights in the community and among the concerned groups
n Be knowledgeable about key health facilities in the vicinity, at FRU and the District level,
and possess necessary information about the services available at the identified facilities
n Work towards reducing barriers to accessing services and promote STI management and
partner notification, utilisation of VCTC/ICTC, PPTCT services by HRIs and other
vulnerable groups
n Coordinate the linkage between communities and service institutions (especially VCTC/
ICTC, PHC/CHC, RTI /STI clinic and District hospital)
n Identify and train volunteers
n Facilitate formation of Red Ribbon clubs (RRC)
n Supervise volunteers, Red Ribbon Clubs and establish condom depots
n Develop functional linkages with CBOs/networks, organisations working with HRI
populations
n Collection of monthly data from RRC and condom depot holders
n Prepare monthly reports for his/her area according to a predefined format
– 26 –
Link Workers initiate fieldlevel work after training. A team of two Link Workers, one male
and one female, will work together. The few initial visits to the village will involve villagelevel
mapping, understanding local vulnerabilities and risks, and identifying and meeting with the
key stakeholders in the village. These visits will also help them identify active young men and
women as volunteers.
After this, the Link Worker, with support of the DRP and supervisor, will devise his/her schedule
in such a manner that at least four visits are made to the village/clusters of villages in a week,
amounting to 16 visits in a month. During their visit to the village they will devote a major part
of their time to highrisk populations and vulnerable section of the community. The male Link
Worker will work with men belonging to HRGs and the male clients and partners of HRG
members. Similarly, the Female Link Worker will work with women belonging to HRGs and
their clients and partners. The remaining time should be spent working with vulnerable young
people and women. Volunteers can be involved while the sessions or work with young people
and women are undertaken. The visit should also be utilised to form condom depots and Red
Ribbon Clubs initially, and later to supervise the functioning of these centres.
Week One
Day Action
Monday Visit to the village
Tuesday Visit to the village
Wednesday (there should be two n Visit to the Subcentre (convergence with
visits to the Subcentre in a month) ANM and ASHA for RH services to women
of HRGs and their partners/spouses and
other vulnerable women)
n Any follow up visits needed with HRIs,
young people and women
n Weekly report
Thursday Visit to the village
Friday (there should be four to six n Visit to ICTC, STI Clinic, youth corners
visits to ICTC, STI Clinic, PHCyouth at PHC
corner. Each of these should be n Any follow up visits needed with HRIs,
covered at least once every month) young people and women
n Weekly report
Saturday Visit to the village
The same schedule can be repeated in the remaining three weeks. The last two or three days of
each month should be devoted to conducting meeting with volunteers, preparing field reports
and meeting the supervisor and DRPs. The Links Workers should also compile a list of contacts
established with different stakeholders, HRIs, young people and services. This should be reported
each month to the supervisor.
On a quarterly basis during visits to the village, the Link Workers should update records on
HRIs, vulnerable households, migration patterns, households with young men and women,
etc.
– 27 –
The two Link Workers female and male can either work together as a team and adopt the
same monthly schedule of visits or can make their schedules independent of each other
whatever is most acceptable in their sociocultural context.
Tools
Annexure 3, Available Frontline VillageLevel Workers
Annexure 6, Mapping
3.7 Selection and Responsibilities of Volunteers
3.7.1 Selection Criteria and Process
Each Link Worker should identify 2 4 volunteers in each village under his/her jurisdiction,
preferably with an equal distribution of men and women and in the age group of 15 to 29 yrs.
It is helpful to have volunteers who represent both the general and weaker populations. HIV
positive people are an excellent resource for voluntary work provided they are willing to come
forward. Good communication, understanding of certain key issues and being a respected
member of the community make for a good volunteer.
n Act as information post for services, linkages and referrals

n Coordinate the day to day functioning of RRC
n Can be a condom depot holder
n Establish rapport with local groups in order to gather more information about the possible
HRIs
n Mobilise people for events and/or services
n Provide care to PLWHA
n Provide crisis support
The personnel in the Link Worker Scheme must coordinate closely with each other and at
the same time with other basic health functionaries in the District for effective implementation
of the Scheme. Working towards convergence with other programmes at District and block
level is an integral role of DRPs, supervisors, Link Workers and volunteers.
3.8 Areas of Convergence

As HIV/AIDS touches on many facets of life and is continually influenced by a convergence of
factors, it requires a multifaceted approach. The multifaceted or multidimensional approach
calls for convergence at two levels:
n Within the different strategies under NACP III
n Between NACP III and other programmes and initiatives
– 28 –
This will not only make the response to HIV/AIDS more comprehensive but will also bring
together the infrastructure, human resources and capacities of different programmes which
are critical to ensure scaleup and effective service delivery.
The Strategy and Implementation Plan Document of NACP III clearly lays out mainstreaming
issues and convergence areas with different Ministries and their programmes. It also talks
about partnerships with the private sector. But under the Link Worker Scheme the emphasis is
more on locallevel (District to village) convergence.
The DAPCU and District NGOs (including DRP) have a crucial role to play in the convergence.
The roles envisaged under NACP III are as follows:
n Within the different strategies under NACP III:
w Closely work with TIs
w Have coordination, regular meetings and experience sharing with programmes
addressing HRIs and bridge populations in the districts.
w Work with the communication campaigns and initiatives undertaken to address
HIV and AIDS issues
n Between NACP III and other programmes and initiatives:
w Work with Districtlevel departments for prevention, treatment and impact
mitigation
w Manage the integration of services with the general health system and other non
health interventions
w Work with PRI institutions and local CSOs for social mobilisation for HIV prevention
and management
w Work with officers of RCH, TB, MOHFW, NRHM to effectively integrate HIV/AIDS
in their functions
w Facilitate and monitor integration of support and treatment with prevention in the
District
w Promote synergy between HIV/AIDS initiatives supported by SACS and other donor
organisations being implemented in the District
w Facilitate social support to PLHAs and families through Districtlevel programmes
of Government and NGOs
The framework for convergence under1 NRHM should also be followed, wherein the effort of
DAPCU and DRP should be to integrate HIV/AIDS into NRHM activities. One of the core
strategies of the NRHM is to empower local governments to manage, control and be accountable
for public health services at various levels. Link Workers and supervisors can work with the
PRIs and the basic health functionaries to support this.
1
Framework includes formation of the Village Health and Sanitation Committee (VHSC). VHSC, along with the
standing committee of the Gram Panchayat (GP), will provide oversight of all NRHM activities at the village level
and be responsible for developing the Village Health Plan with the support of the ANM, ASHA, AWW and Self Help
Groups. Blocklevel Panchayat Samitis will coordinate the work of the GP in their jurisdiction and will serve as a
link to the District Health Mission (DHM). The DHM will be led by the Zila Parishad and will control, guide and
manage all public health institutions in the District. States will be encouraged to devolve greater powers and funds
to Panchayati Raj institutions.
– 29 –
Convergence and linkages will be needed between Link Workers and other services, programmes
and institutions in the areas as depicted in Figure 1.
The Link Worker Scheme is temporary in nature (for a period of 3 years from the date of
implementation). In order to ensure sustainability of the scheme the VHC will be involved
from the beginning. The VHC will be strengthened to take responsibility of HIV prevention
and care in their villages. The VHC will gradually assess the Link Workers work, ensure all
marginalised groups and atrisk groups get access to services, ensure building of community
norms around prevention and care, and prevent stigma and discrimination.
3.9 Work Stations

The Link Workers and supervisors will largely be in the field and will require a physical structure
for their meetings and when formulating reports. The following places can be used by the Link
Worker and other functionaries in the scheme:
n Link Workers could conduct their meetings with other basic health functionaries at the
Subcentre. They could also have their weekly schedule displayed at the Subcentre, so
that the supervisor, DRP or any other functionary knows about their availability. The
Anganwadi centres and the Red Ribbon Clubs are other places in the villages where Link
Workers can conduct their meetings with volunteers or do their work.
n Supervisors can meet Link Workers at PHC/Block PHC. This place could be taken as their
workstation.
n The DRPs can be attached to the DAPCU or NGO.
– 30 –
CAPACITY BUILDING
In view of the objective of establishing a nationallevel workforce of around 200 middle to
4
seniorlevel trainers (District Resource Persons) and around 30,000 35,000 trained/skilled
youth working as Link Workers and supervisors, the quality and adequacy of training is most
important.
Capacity building will take place through a cascade mechanism. The District Resource Persons
and Supervisors will be trained by the identified Technical Resource Institutions. The capacities
of Link Workers to carry out their assigned roles will be built through District Resource Persons
and supervisors in partnership with State Technical Resource Institutes. The Link Workers
will further orient the volunteers over a period of 5 days, as part of "onthejob" training. See
Figure 3.
Figure 3. Training Cascade
*DRPs and Supervisors when established at the District level will be expected to conduct training of Link Workers.
The number of Link Workers will vary from District to District depending on HRI population and the number of
villages with 5,000+ population identified through district mapping. There will be between 46 trainings. Each of
these trainings will be of two weeks' duration.
– 31 –
4.1 Training for DRPs and Supervisors

The training for DRPs and supervisors will be organised as a twoweek residential training
programme at the State level. During this training the participants will cover six modules over
a period of approximately 80 hours. This will include extensive field exposure as well as practical
and participatory teaching. A detailed plan outlining the structure of the modules, their key
objectives and suggestive training plan is provided in the training manual.
4.2 Training for Link Workers

The training for Link Workers will be organised as a twoweek residential training programme
at the District level. During this training the participants will cover seven modules over a
period of approximately 80 hours. This will include sufficient time for practising skills required
for mapping, condom demonstration and communicating effectively. The training will also
include field visits to TIs and health facilities. Experience sharing with TIs/CBOs and counsellors/
health care providers will be integrated within the training. The focus will be on contextualising
all the information (to the rural context of the LW) and providing firsthand experience in
working with HRIs and vulnerable populations. A detailed plan outlining the structure of the
modules, their key objectives and suggested schedule is provided in the training manual.
The training will include issuebased knowledge; information on existing government
programmes and schemes in the District, expected roles of Link Workers in the community and
orientation on reporting formats. Participants will also be oriented to the handbook and the
Job Aids during the training. As these are residential trainings, the evenings can be utilised for
practising the use of Job Aids to impart information and convey key messages around HIV/
AIDS (behaviour change communication).
The DRPs and TRIs will also train the Link Workers to identify important stakeholders, and to
understand and address risk behaviours.
4.2.1 Follow-Up Training

A twoday followup training for the Link Workers and Supervisors is envisaged at a gap of six
months to one year after the initial training. It is expected that during this period, the DRPs
will monitor the progress of the Link Workers and will be able to assess the areas that need to
be strengthened. The DRPs should report these identified training needs in their regular field
assessment reports and this should form the basis for planning the followup trainings. The
DRPs, supported by the TRIs, will conduct the training.
4.3 Keeping the Workforce Motivated

The major workforce in the Link Worker Scheme is from rural areas. They will address issues
of sexuality and HIV/AIDS which are at times very challenging. It is extremely important to
maintain the motivation levels of the Supervisors, Link Workers and volunteers. This will
promote feelings of personal commitment towards the Scheme and enhance the personnel's
output.
The basic spirit of volunteerism that this scheme aims to promote will be maintained if the
workforce remains motivated.
This involves interventions with little or no financial resources. Some recommendations (largely
based on lessons from the corporate sector and international agencies) for keeping the Link
– 32 –
Workers and Supervisors motivated are as follows:

n The strategic imperatives and vision of NACP III and the Link Worker Scheme must be
conveyed to staff at all levels
n Create opportunities for empowerment among the staff and link them explicitly to achieving
the goals of the Scheme
n Increase frontline autonomy by allowing key implementation decisions to be made by Link
Workers and Supervisors under the supportive supervision of DRPs. Reward rather than
punish frontline creativity and willingness to take implementation chances.
n Encourage grassroots innovation and provide incentives to explore the potential for
improvement in their daytoday activities
n Encourage them to identify "failures" in achieving their objectives and to communicate
those failures up through management. This will prevent them from hiding their shortfalls
and prevent misreporting.
n Develop esprit de corps among them. Encourage camaraderie with respect to their
everyday work. Create opportunities for Link Workers and supervisors or other basic health
functionaries doing similar work to develop trust and cohesiveness.
Rewards or incentives need not be financial: appreciation in front of coworkers or a citation
may work just as well. Opportunities for capacity building, exposure to similar programmes
elsewhere in the state or country, or opportunities for presenting one's work in front of seniors
from SACS or NACO can serve as good incentives.
The volunteers, who are not paid staff under the Scheme, should be rewarded through these
mechanisms. They can also be connected to existing employment and rural development schemes
of the Government.
The branding of the Link Worker Scheme may also add to the eagerness of young women
and men to be associated with it, either as Link Workers or as volunteers.
In Government programmes, very little growth has traditionally been seen for frontline workers
or basic health functionaries. Providing opportunities for growth which may not always
mean promotion but could be learning opportunities or job expansion (adding responsibilities,
which is an indication of the faith of seniors in a worker) is a good way to retain the motivation
of staff.
Similarly, wherever possible the first choice for filling vacant positions in the Scheme should be
an existing worker at a lower rank. For example, if there is a vacancy for a Link Worker, the
volunteers in his/her area should get the first consideration for the position. This also saves
time and money as the Scheme has already invested in their capacity building.
4.4 Dealing with Attrition

The need to appoint new DRPs/Supervisors/Link Workers may arise under two situations:
n Nonperformance
n Attrition
– 33 –
It is assumed that there will be some attrition in the workforce in the ranks of DRPs, Supervisors
and Link Workers.
The DAPCU/NGO should have the responsibility to report to SACS the vacancy of a DRP,
and along with SACS they should take necessary steps to fill this vacancy within a period of
two months.The supervisor in the monthly reporting format should report the status of
personnel, both Link Workers and volunteers. For any Link Worker vacancy, the DRPs should
consult the Gram Panchayat/VHSC and do the recruitment. This too should happen within
two months. Volunteers who have developed considerable understanding of HIV/AIDS and
have actively participated in the programme should be considered preferentially for the vacancy
of a Link Worker. This will serve as an incentive for other volunteers. Whenever a volunteer
discontinues working, the Link Worker should have the responsibility of selecting active people
to fill the vacancy.
Assuming some attrition in the workforce at the field level ,the available workforce should be
assessed periodically (preferably every 6 months) by the State Youth Coordinators (SACS) and
DRPs, taking stock of the emerging training needs for the District. The State Youth Coordinators
will coordinate with their counterparts in other States and recommend that the newly appointed
DRPs be included into the ongoing state level trainings at that point of time.
Training of newly recruited replacement personnel is essential for effective implementation

of the scheme. The TRIs, District NGOs and DAPCU should be responsible for the training
of the newly recruited DRPs and Link Workers. Either training can be organised in the
District itself, or, if there is training scheduled in other Districts of the State, the newly
recruited staff can be sent to participate in it. Funds must be allocated for training at the
beginning of the rollout of Scheme.
4.5 Training Resources

Resource material for conducting the trainings includes a Training Manual supported by a
Facilitator's Guide. This Training manual has been developed to standardise the training
component in the Link Worker Scheme. The training manual will be used by National and
Statelevel Technical Resource Institution as a resource for developing the facilitation skills and
knowledge base of DRPs about HIV and AIDS, and to establish the DRPs as a cadre of certified
Master trainers at District level.
Once the DRPs are trained and positioned in the Districts, the key messages, contents and basic
skills will be passed on to Link Workers in a more comprehensive and synthesized form. The
Training Manual will serve as the basic training resource for the DRPs to conduct training
programmes for the Link Workers in the District.
The Training manual will be supplemented by a Handbook for Link Workers. The Handbook
will be the key resource for Link Workers and will summarise the important messages and
information from the training manual in a simplified version. This Handbook will act as a
ready reckoner for the Link Workers during and after the training. The Handbook will also
provide brief guidelines on how to approach onthejob training for the volunteers, which is
envisaged as a 10hour package to be delivered over 5 days in the first month after recruitment.
The Handbook will be part of the Job Aids/Tool Kit. The tool kit will include a set of
"Edutainment materials" that will support the Link Workers and volunteers in communicating
key messages more effectively in the community, and in a participatory manner.
– 34 –
Thus the three key resources Training Manual, Handbook for Link Workers, and Job Aids
developed for the Scheme are connected, each one facilitating the transfer of information
from one level of the training cascade to the next. In addition, the Job Aids will also be a useful
resource for conducting specified activities and conveying key messages at the field level. (For
a list of Job Aids, see Annexure 7, Job Aids.)
Tool
Annexure 7, Job Aids
– 35 –
MONITORING AND EVALUATION

Monitoring is a continuous/periodic review of the implementation of a programme to ensure
5
that input, work schedules, outputs and other required actions are proceeding according to
plan. Another way of describing monitoring is that it is a process of measuring, recording,
collecting, processing and communicating information to assist project management decision
making. Evaluation aims to assess the impact made by the programme, the contributory factors
and the role of various partners.
The indicators presented here are both monitoring and evaluation indicators and are quantitative
and qualitative in nature. Monitoring indicators are largely processoriented and form part of
the reporting formats of the Link Worker and the DRP. Some output/outcome indicators are
also proposed that will be captured at the end of five years. Certain indicators around behaviour
change that are already being covered by BSS are not included here. Simple reporting formats
have been designed for the different personnel under the Link Worker Scheme (see Annexure
8, Reporting Formats).
It is proposed that a baseline be conducted by an independent research organisation (to be
hired by SACs) to establish the benchmarks against which the progress of the Scheme can be
measured. The research organisation can decide on the sample that is considered robust and
representative for the total Districts in each State. The framework for the research should be
prepared centrally by NACO so as to maintain uniformity in the research. An endline should
be conducted after 5 years to understand the impact of the scheme on HRGs and vulnerable
young people.
Tool
Annexure 8, Reporting Formats
5.1 Programme Roll-Out Indicators

n Number of DRP and supervisors selected, (by sex, age distribution, educational qualification)
quarterly
n Number of DRP and Supervisors trained (Basic Training) quarterly

n Number of Link Workers (male and female) selected in each District, (District, Block and
villagewise coverage) monthly in the first year and then quarterly
n Number of Link Workers trained (Basic Training) monthly in the first year and then
quarterly
n Numberof Link Workers completed followup training quarterly
n Number of villagelevel volunteers (male and female) selected and trained by Link Workers
monthly in the first year and then quarterly
n Number of replaced/newly recruited DRPs/supervisors/Link Workers trained this will

be part of the reporting formats
– 36 –
5.2 Programme Objective Indicators
Objective 1: To reach out to High Risk Groups and vulnerable young people in rural areas
with information, knowledge and skills on STI/HIV prevention and risk reduction.
Process Indicators Frequency Responsibility Source
Village vulnerability and resource One time LW Reporting

mapping completed format
Village vulnerability and resource Quarterly LW Reporting
information updated format
No. of HRIs (male and female) Monthly LW Reporting
contacted villagewise format
No. of vulnerable young people Monthly LW Reporting
and women contacted village/ format
clusterwise
No. of total awareness campaigns Quarterly LW Reporting
format
No. of awareness campaigns in highly Quarterly LW Reporting
vulnerable/risk group localities/pockets format
Output Indicator
n % of targeted population (HRIs/young people and women) with increased
knowledge about the modes of transmission of STIs, HIV/AIDS; HIV/AIDS
prevention; care and treatment
Objective 2: To promote increased and consistent use of condoms with casual and regular
partners.
No. of Condom Depots established Monthly LW Reporting

and functioning* format
(depot receive stock; and sale of condom)
No. of individual males and females Monthly LW Reporting
informed about the correct use of condom format
No. of HRIs (FSWs, MSM, IDUs) and Monthly LW Reporting
bridge population members informed Format
about the correct use of condoms
No. of vulnerable young people informed Monthly LW Reporting
about the correct use of condom Format
Uptake of condom from the depots Monthly LW Reporting
(mean active collection by individuals format
male and female)
– 37 –
Output Indicators
n % of women and men from HRGs and vulnerable young people aware of dual benefits
of Condom use
n % of women and men from HRGs and vulnerable young people reporting easy
availability of condoms
n % of women and men from HRGs and vulnerable young people aware of correct use
of condoms
n % of women and men from HRGs surveyed informing of consistent use of condoms
n % of sexually active young people surveyed informing of consistent use of condoms
Objective 3: To generate awareness and enhance utilisation of prevention, care and support
programmes and services (especially STI, ICTC, PPTCT, ART and DOT).
No. of groups informed about services Monthly LW Reporting

(STI clinics, ICTC, PPTCT, ART, DOTS) format
male and female
No. of meetings attended Monthly LW Reporting
(e.g. VHSC, panchayat) with grassroots format
level functionaries such as ANM, LHV,
MO, AWW, PRI, functionaries of rural
development, etc. for enhancing linkages
No. of visits made to service providers Monthly LW Reporting
(e.g. ANM, AWW. ASHA, Doctors/ format
Paramedical) by Link Workers for
enhancing linkages
No. of HRIs and vulnerable young Monthly LW Reporting
people referred by Link Workers/ format
volunteers to services
Output Indicators
n Percentage increase of Full ANC (at least 3 ANC during pregnancy), from the HRGs
and bridge populations.
n Percentage increase in ICTC service utilisation (e.g. number of women and men from
HRGs and bridge populations tested for HIV)
n Percentage of women and men who returned to collect reports
n Percentage of couple with STIs/RTIs, who have sought full treatment and/or completed
one cycle of treatment
n % of vulnerable young people utilising services
– 38 –
Objective 4: To create an enabling environment through involvement of PLHAs and reducing

stigma and discrimination that facilitates the reintegration of HRGs into the community
and recognition of their rights.
No. of PLHA (male and female) Monthly LW Reporting

contacted through onetoone or format
group meetings
No. of PLHA reporting instances Quarterly LW Reporting
of stigma and discrimination format
No. of PLHA who attended meetings Monthly LW Reporting
conducted by Link Workers format
Output Indicators
n Number of PLHA reporting instances of stigma and discrimination
n Percentage of HRIs with better understanding of stigma and discrimination and how
to prevent them
n Percentage of HRG members with positive attitude towards PLHAs
n Percentage increase of HIV positive people participating in awareness generation

activities in comparison to baseline
n Percentage of men and women from HRGs who are accepted as part of the community
Objective 5: To provide information and enhance utilisation of care and support programmes
and services by individual living with HIV.
No. of care and support services Monthly LW Reporting

identified and contacted format
No. of PLHA referred to ART clinics Monthly LW Reporting
format
No. of positive pregnant women Monthly LW Reporting
referred for PPTCT format
Output Indicators
n Percentage of HIV positive women and men aware of ART and treatment of
opportunistic infections
n Percentage of HIV positive women and men on ART
n Percentage of HIV positive pregnant women availing PPTCT services
– 39 –
5.3 Reporting Channels

Reporting is a major activity during project monitoring. It is the way in which information
about the process and output of activities, and not just the activities themselves, is shared
between the different functionaries of the project. There are reporting formats for DRPs,
Supervisors and Link Workers which must be completed on a monthly basis. Volunteers will
do verbal reporting.
n Volunteers report to Link Worker (informal mechanism)
n Link Workers report to DRP through Supervisor
n Supervisor reports to District Resource Person

n District Resource Person reports to DAPCU/NGO and SACS
– 40 –
COSTING AT DISTRICT LEVEL 6

6.1 Costing for One District
6.1.1 PERSONNEL COSTS
Salary Travel No. of Total Cost per

Persons Month (Rs)
Link Workers 1,500 500 40 80000

Supervisors 6,000 1,000 4 28000
DRP 20,000 2,000 1 22000
M&E 12,000 1,500 1 13500
Office Assistant 5,000 1 5000
TOTAL (Rs ) 47 1,48,500
6.1.2 TRAINING COSTS
6.1.2 (a) ORIENTATION TRAINING 14 DAYS

No. of One Time Cost Accommoda Food No. of Cost of
Persons tion Training Orientation
Travel Materials Days Training
Link Workers 40 500 60 250 150 14 246,400

Supervisors 4 500 60 250 150 14 24,640
DRP 1 500 60 250 150 14 6,160
M&E 1 500 60 250 150 14 6,160
Total Cost for Orientation Training (Rs ) 2,83,360
6.1.2(b) FOLLOW UP TRAINING 2 DAYS
No. of One Time Cost Accommoda Food No. of Cost of

Persons tion Training Follow up
Travel Materials Days Training
Link Workers 40 500 60 250 150 2 54,400

Supervisors 4 500 60 250 150 2 5,440
DRP 1 500 60 250 150 2 1,360
M&E 1 500 60 250 150 2 1,360
Total Cost for Refreshers Training (Rs ) 62,560
GRAND TOTAL FOR TRAINING 3,45,920
– 41 –
6.1.3 ONETIME COSTS

Item Cost Total
Mobilisation events 10,000 10,000
Recruitment costs 3,000 3,000
Computer, Printer & furniture* 72,500 72,500
TOTAL (RS ) 85,500
*Note: Insurance of office equipment, including computer, to be borne by Implementing agency.
6.1.4 RECURRING COSTS FOR OFFICE SET UP
Item Total Cost per month

Rs
Rent 2,500
Office maintenance 250
Electricity & Utilities 300
Postage 150
Communication 1,500
Xerox 300
Printing & Stationery 1,000
Computer maintenance 300
Programme expenses 2,500
Contingencies 500
TOTAL (Rs) 9,300
6.2 Costing For One District Per Year

6.2.1 TOTAL FOR ONE DISTRICT PER YEAR
Months Cost Total cost for a year

Personnel 12 1,48,500 17,82,000
Training** 1 345920 3,45,920
Recurring costs 12 9,300 1,11,600
Onetime costs 1 85,500 85,500
TOTAL (Rs ) 23,25,020
**Note : The training cost mentioned in the table will change after the period of one year .In the second year the cost
of the orientation training (14 days ) will not have to be planned for all the personnel .Only the newly inducted
personnel will undergo this training .
The cost of the follow up training (2 days) will however be the recurring cost for all the personnel.
– 42 –
LIST OF ANNEXURES
Annexure Title Referenced in
Guidelines
Annexure 1 Note on Community Outreach through the Link

Worker Scheme The Bagalkot Experience Section 2.2
Annexure 2 Rapid Mapping of HIV Risk in Rural Areas Section 2.2
Annexure 3 Available Frontline VillageLevel Workers Section 2.3
Annexure 4 List of A and B Districts in India Section 2.4
Annexure 5 RollOut Plan Section 3.1
Annexure 6 Mapping Section 3.6.3
Annexure 7 Job Aids Section 4.5
Annexure 8 Reporting Formats Section 5
NACO Guidelines referenced in these Guidelines
NGO Selection Guidelines of NACO Section 3.1
– 43 –
Blank
ANNEXURE 1
Tool:
Community Outreach through the Link Worker
Scheme – The Bagalkot Experience
Source: Karnataka Health Promotion Trust

Tool Type: Narrative with tabular information
Who can benefit from this resource?
DAPCU or NGO implementing Link Worker Scheme
– 45 –
Introduction
This is a brief note on the experience of implementing the community outreach programme for
prevention of HIV in the rural areas of Bagalkot, one of the Districts of Karnataka, through the
Link Worker Scheme.
Bagalkot district is spread over 6,593 square kilometers. It is surrounded by the Districts of
Bijapur in the north, Belgaum in the west, Koppal and Gadag in the south and Gulbarga in the
east. Bagalkot has six blocks (Taluks), namely Badami, Bagalkot, Bilagi, Hungund, Jamkhandi
and Mudhol. As per the 2001 census, the District has a total population of 16,52,232 of which
8,35,684 is male and 8,16,548 are women.
Population Data for Bagalkot by Taluk

Sl. No. Taluk Male Female Total
1 Bagalkot 1,25,737 1,22,133 2,47,870
2 Badami 1,46,627 1,45,292 2,91,919
3 Bilagi 71,295 70,548 1,41,843
4 Hungund 1,44,677 1,42,396 2,87,073
5 Jamkhandi 2,08,134 2,00,302 4,08,436
6 Mudhol 1,39,214 1,35,877 2,75,091
Total 8,35,684 8,16,548 16,52,232
The Bagalkot District has 163 Gram Panchayaths with only 12 declared towns. This District
was earlier a part of Bijapur and was created as separate District only in 1997. The District has
many tourist spots, which attract a large number of visitors from within and outside the District.
The mobility serves to increase risk behaviors and vulnerability to HIV.
The economy is primarily agrarian with a higher concentration of migrant agricultural laborers.
Inmigration and outmigration – both across Districts and within the District – due to the
seasonal nature of agriculture are a common feature in Bagalkot District. Inmigration occurs
primarily during the sugarcanecutting season. Outmigration is mainly to Mumbai, Goa,
Mangalore, Ratnagiri and Pune. The high level of mobility and migration results in higher
levels of risk behaviors and vulnerability to HIV.
A sociocultural entrenchment of female sex work due to the Devadasi tradition heightens
vulnerability to HIV. Bagalkot has an estimated 7,300 FSWs who are primarily concentrated in
several taluks. One of the striking features of sex work in Bagalkot, which it shares with much
of Northern Karnataka, is the large numbers of FSWs in rural areas. This, along with complex
sexual networks, high levels of migration and mobility, and a lack of services in rural areas
have all contributed to rising rates of HIV infection in Bagalkot.
FSW Data for Bagalkot by Village and Rural Sites
Sl. No. Taluka Village Urban Total Rural Urban Total

Sites Sites Village/ FSW FSW FSW
Urban
Sites
1 Jamakandi 67 3 70 1172 579 1751
2 Mudhol 77 2 79 1848 260 2083
– 46 –
3 Bagalkot 99 1 100 830 7 847

4 Bilagi 61 1 62 984 39 1023
5 Hungund 163 2 165 658 65 723
6 Badami 158 3 161 808 50 873
Total District 625 12 637 6300 1000 7300
A census survey of households conducted in Bagalkot District in the year 2003 found that
AIDS was the leading cause of death among those aged 1549 during the previous two years
(17% of all deaths). Importantly, HIV prevalence has been higher than 1% for the last 4 years
in the District. The ANC sentinel surveillance shows that prevalence in Bagalkot has been
above 3%. The prevalence in rural areas is higher than in the urban areas. The situation
assessment in Bagalkot District has highlighted several important issues like rural vulnerability
to HIV and growing care and support needs.
In many rural areas, there are limited information, preventive health and social services, resulting
in both a lack of knowledge about how to prevent HIV infection, and lack of access to key
preventive services including condoms and RTI/STI services.
The Bagalkot Project
A rural HIV prevention and care project has been implemented in Bagalkot for last 4 years.
The project, initially funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and
known as ICHAP had by March 2006 been implement in 6 taluks of Bagalkot. Since April
2006, the project is being funded and implemented by Karnataka Health Promotion Trust with
partial funding (for a sex work project under the project name Corridors) from BMGF. Since
October 2006, USAID is also funding care and support programmes in the District. Currently
this is the funding structure:
n The Samastha Project funded by USAID aims to reduce the transmission and impact of
HIV in Karnataka and selected Districts of Andhra Pradesh. Besides Bagalkot, the project
is being implemented in 11 other District of Karnataka and 4 Coastal Districts of AP.
n The Corridors Project funded by BMGF aims to reduce transmission of STIs and HIV
among female FSWs in 3 Districts of Karnataka and 3 Districts of Maharashtra.
This 4year project, which has now become a model project for rural HIV prevention and care,
has the following components:
n Outreach
n Mobilisation
– 47 –
Outreach and Mobilisation

Outreach to the general population is done through a cadre of male and female Link Workers.
The project has a pair of Link Workers for 35 villages covering a population of 10,000 people.
The task of Link Workers is to provide information to people, motivate them to access services
and then follow up to provide support and further care if needed. Up to May 2007:
n 4,82,705 men and 4,53,449 women were given oneonone information
n 55,30,483 condoms were distributed
Mobilisation of the general population, especially village leaders, is important to provide a
stigmafree environment for atrisk and HIV positive populations. Hence in the villages the
project has formed/ activated Village Health Committees to take ownership and responsibility
of HIV prevention work and the care of PLWHA. 198 Village Health Committees have been
formed/activated for ownership and sustainability up to May 2007.
Outreach with sex workers is done through peers. The peers provide information, distribute
and demonstrate condoms and also refer and counsel sex workers to go to the STI clinics. Peers
also facilitate formation of groups of sex workers for empowerment, lead literacy classes for sex
workers, respond to crisis and violence that the community faces and advocate on behalf of the
community for social entitlements. Up to May 2007, 5,400 sex workers have been contacted by
the project.
Community mobilisation in the context of sex work in Bagalkot has two facets, one sensitising
the general community and village leaders to create a positive image of sex workers in the
community, and the other doing advocacy with the sex work community (mothers, gharwalis,
community leaders) to support HIV prevention and care work among sex workers. A sex
worker CBO that was formed in 2000 aimed to take up the role to advocate for sex workers
and their rights. The project supported the CBO by partnering with it in implementation of the
project and by facilitating a process of democratic institution building. The CBO is now
acknowledged by the community as the voice of sex workers. 3,050 FSWs have chosen to be
members of the CBO.
HIV positive outreach workers besides Link Workers also do outreach with PLWHA. The
positive outreach workers provide home based counselling and palliative care to PLWHA.
PLWHA are linked with IPPCC/ outpatient care centres run by the Positive Network of
Bagalkot. The positive outreach workers also link up PLWHA with TB care, ART and even
institutional care where necessary.
Mobilising PLWHA to organize and collectivise has been a project objective. PLWHA have
been encouraged to form their own group and this gave birth to Jeevan Jyothi, the first District
level positive network in Karnataka. The project is now strengthening the network and has
initiated an institutionbuilding process.
Prevention and Care Services

The project has been providing prevention and care services. STI services have been provided
through programmelinked clinics and referral clinics for last 4 years. Capacity building of
service providers (private and public) in Syndromic Case Management has been a key feature.
Drug packs based on SCM have been provided to these providers. Up to May 2007, 14,973
men and 39,580 women were provided STI treatment and followup.
Care and Support services have been provided since 2005 through Integrated Positive Prevention
– 48 –
and Care center run by the District Positive Network, Jeevan Jyothi. The center provides
outpatient services for PLWHA, conducts group meetings, provides counselling support to
those infected and affected and also builds capacities of PLWHA and their family members.
2,036 men and 1,987 women living with HIV were supported through this IPPCC in Bagalkot
up to May 2007. A Care and Support Centre has also been recently identified to provide
inpatient care for PLWHA in the District.
Referral to existing services (VCTC/ PPTCT/ ART) is also being done in the District. Bagalkot
was the first District to start taluklevel VCTC services. Up to May 2007, the project has referred
9,195 men and 5,539 women for counselling and testing support
Partnership with the Government

The Bagalkot project partners with the government in implementing HIV prevention and care
programmes in the District. Bagalkot was the first District in the State to develop a joint action
plan with the government for HIV prevention and care in the District. The project has a
project steering committee, which is chaired by the District Commissioner (and now renamed
the District AIDS Committee). The project also partners with the District health system in
training doctors, health care providers, anganwadi workers and school teachers. Health camps
and STI camps are conducted in collaboration with the District Health officials and PHC/
CHC. The project office, located in the District hospital, further facilitates collaboration with
the government.
Coverage
Currently the project is working in 250 villages for general population prevention and 158
villages for prevention with sex workers. Care and support (inpatient and outpatient) services
have been set up with will cater to the whole District.
Achievement
Sentinel Surveillance data for Karnataka has shown an overall decline in HIV prevalence among
the ANC attendees from 1.46% in 2003 to 1.13% in 2006. A similar decline was observed in
Bagalkot District (from 3.15% in 2003 to 2.13% in 2006). However, the decline in HIV prevalence
in Bagalkot cannot entirely be attributed to the project.
– 49 –
The two rounds of polling booth surveys carried out in the project areas of the District among
the general population indicated a positive change in some of the project outcomes measured
in terms of the percentage who have seen a condom and the percentage of married person who
have ever used a condom. The change has been sharper among the females than the males.
Key Accomplishments and Learnings from the Project

Bagalkot site is currently being developed as a learning site for rural HIV prevention and care
intervention. Our accomplishments learnings in the last 4 years have been:
n Planning and implementing a Districtwide prevention and care project with focus on the
rural areas.
– 50 –
n Planning and implementing a rural prevention programme, which is evidencebased and

targets those at risk in relation to geography and population.
n Involving and building capacity of local community members (Link Workers, peers, village
leaders, Government officials) to become change agents in their communities.
n Designing and implementing a differential package of outreach and services for rural villages
and populations based on differentials in the risk
Our learnings in the past 4 years have been:
n The importance and the mechanics of building an enabling environment through advocacy
with villages leaders to facilitate ownership and sustainability of the change process
n Collaboration with the government in designing and implementing a District HIV prevention
and care programme
n Designing and implementing different strategies for provision of regular clinical services
n Being flexible and evolving the programme based on the needs of the community
n Strengthening local community based organizations to take leadership and ownership of

programmes
n Need for regular monitoring and assessments of the programme to measure progress and
make changes to keep the programme effective
– 51 –
ANNEXURE 2
Tool:
Rapid Mapping of
HIV Risk in Rural Areas
Source: Karnataka Health Promotion Trust

Tool Type: Description and Questionnaire
DRPs and supervisors training Link Workers, and the
Link Workers themselves
– 52 –
Introduction
One of the major components of the USAID Project in Karnataka is to implement an HIV
prevention programme in high risk groups as well as vulnerable populations including youth
in the selected 900 villages of the 9 programme Districts: Gulbarga, Raichur, Koppal, Dharwad,
Bellary, Kolar, Bangalore Rural, Davanagere and Tumkur.
The selection of villages will be based on a rapid mapping of all villages in these Districts on a
number of parameters, including:
n Size of the village (from the Census 2001)
n Estimated number of FSWs in the village
n Migration of village population
n Estimated size of the population infected with HIV
n Estimated proportion of deaths due to AIDS/TB in the past two years
n Major population congregation events
n Proximity to an urban centre, to a highway, to industrial hubs/workplaces
There will be 15 – 20 teams in each District (depending on the number of villages to be covered),
each team consisting of a researcher and a member of the district SW collective. There will
be one designated person from KHPT who will be the overall incharge for this rapid assessment.
In order to plan the field operations and to ensure quality, one Regional Resource Person
(RRP) and technical consultants from the Population Research Center (PRC) will work closely
with the District incharge.
Methodology
For this rapid assessment, all villages with population above 500 are selected and the study
team will visit each of these villages. Upon reaching the village, the team should first contact
the Village Mukhyasta and inform him about the rapid assessment and the need for this
assessment. Build rapport with the Mukhyasta and identify all the possible Key Informants
available in the village for the study. The following are possible Key Informants in the villages:
n Officebearer of the Gram Panchayat
n Anganwadi teacher
n ANM
n School teacher
n Owners of petty shops/grocery stores/fair price shops/hotels/tea stalls
n Members of Mahila Mandals, Sthree Shakti groups
n Members of Yuvak Mandals
n Local STD/Telephone booth operators
n People Living with HIV
– 53 –
Among the list of probable Key Informants, the study team will carry out a minimum of 5 in
depth interviews as per the guidelines.
During the initial or Key Informant discussions, if it is confirmed that there are FSWs living
in the village, the team should try to meet at least 3 of these FSWs. The community member
in the team should focus on getting more information about FSWs staying in the village and
the FSWs from the village who practice sex work outside the village. This information can be
explored by visiting the most vulnerable parts of the village such as Janata Plots, Tandas,
Harijan Keris, etc.
Roles and Responsibilities

Each field team consists of one researcher and a community member. Every three teams will be
under the supervision of a supervisor, who will plan the daytoday activities of the teams. The
teams will report their daily progress to the supervisor, while the supervisor reports the progress
of his/her teams’ fieldwork to the District incharge on a daily basis.
Teams
n Visit the villages assigned to them on a daily basis
n Contact the village Mukhyasta
n Identify Key Informants
n Select the Key Informants for the interview
n Complete the key informant interviews
n Identify whether any sex worker lives in the village
n Triangulate the information from the key informant interviews and complete the Village
Form
n Complete the villages assigned to the team daily
n Complete the Field Control Form and submit to the supervisor
n Report any issues in the field to the team supervisor immediately
Supervisor
n Take charge of the transportation of the teams assigned to him/her
n Daily field plans of his/her teams
n Check for the selection of Key Informants
n Examine the Key Informants interviews
n Verification of completeness of information
n Verification of triangulation of information
n Complete the control form and submit to the District incharge
n Report the progress to the District incharge
n Report any issues in the field to the District incharge
n Conduct daily team meeting and discuss the progress and issues of the day
– 54 –
District In-charge
n Overall responsibility for the District
n Recruitment of teams and supervisors
n Train the teams
n Finalise the field work time schedule for the team. Although a tentative fieldwork schedule
is prepared at the beginning of the fieldwork, modifications in this initial planning may be
required on a daily basis. It is important to document these changes in the schedule on a
daily basis and follow up the progress.
n Take charge of the vehicle for the transportation of the field teams, and the materials
required for the teams
n Ensure the correct identification and selection of Key Informants
n Check the triangulation of information
n Ensure the quality of the information gathered from villages. Accompany the teams in the
initial stages of the fieldwork and sort out any issues that may arise. Subsequently back
check for the completeness of information.
n Ensure that all the teams understand the consolidation of information and recording
correctly
n Ensure that the teams are not running out of forms
n Troubleshoot whenever there is a community backlash
n Daily fieldwork review: Fix a time for daily review based on the fieldwork schedule, and
(1) discuss the completion, (2) review the observations made by the team supervisor on the
completed village forms, and (3) plan for the next day
n Verify the Field Control Form daily to ensure the completion
n Arrange dispatch of Village Forms to KHPT, Bangalore every 5 days
Field Procedures
Do not arrive at consolidating any information from only one indepth interview. All issues
must be addressed with all the Key Informants.
1. Approximate distance to the nearest town (in kilometres). Record the approximate
distance to the nearest town from the village, in kilometres.
2. Approximate distance to the nearest National Highway (in kilometres). Record the
approximate distance to the nearest National Highway from the village, in kilometres.
3. Does this village have a Santhe or a weekly market? A Santhe means selling and buying
of agricultural products and other commodities organised within the village, with the
participation of people from outside. This usually happens on a weekly basis.
4. Are there any big events (apart from Santhe) in the village such as Jatre, fair, Mela,
etc., which attract a large number of people from other places? These events may be for
a day or for several days.
5. How many such events occur in a year? This is the number of big events such as Jatre,
fair, Mela, etc. occurring in the village.
6. Are there any major factories/construction sites close to the village (including within
the village? This is a place where many people from the village and surrounding areas
– 55 –
are employed. This also could be a place where many migrants from outside the area are
employed.
7. Approximately how many persons from this village go out to work temporarily (for a
period of one week or longer)? Does a large number of people (single or with families)
move out of the village seeking employment during any part of the year? Is there seasonal
unemployment in the village which pushes people out to seek temporary work outside?
8. Approximately how many persons come to this village for work on a temporary basis
(for a period of one week or longer)? Does a large number of people (single or with
families) come to the village seeking employment during any part of the year? Are there
any pull factors for the people from outside come to the village?
9. Approximately how many individuals are currently infected with HIV? The main focus
is to understand whether HIV is visible in the village. Do people in the village identify HIV
as a problem?
10. Approximately how many individuals have died due to AIDS/TB in the past 2 years?
We need to understand whether people think that many of the recent deaths are due to
AIDS or TB. Do people consider AIDS/TB as a major cause of death in the village?
11. Are there any female sex workers staying in the village? A female sex worker (FSW) is
defined as a woman who has sold sex during the past one month. The following persons
should not be considered as FSWs:
n Those who were sex workers but now have stopped sex work
n The Devadasis who do not practice sex work
n Those who have “casual” multiple partners
12. How many female sex workers stay in the village? After all the Key Informant interviews,
record the number of FSWs who stay in the village. This is not the average of the number
reported by each Key Informant, but a number you arrive at after triangulating the
information obtained from the Key Informants. This has two components:
a. Those who practice sex work in the village.
b. Those who live in the village but do sex work outside the village (for instance, a
woman who does not practice sex work in the village but goes to the nearest town/
village daily/occasionally and practices sex work there should be included here).
13. Among all the sex workers live in the village, how many of them belong to Devadasis?
Some Devadasis may not currently be engaged in sex work, which should not be considered.
14. How many FSWs from this village live and practice sex work outside the village? After
all the Key Informant interviews, record the number of FSWs from the village who live
and practice sex work outside the village. This is not the average of the number reported
by each Key Informant, but a number you arrive at after triangulating the information
obtained from all Key Informants. For instance, a woman who has migrated out of the
village to a nearby or distant town, stays there and practices sex work should be included
here. The reference period for this information is 6 months. This number is the sum of the
following three categories:
a. Those who have migrated to do sex work within the District
– 56 –
b. Those who have migrated to do sex work outside the District but within the State
c. Those who have migrated to do sex work outside the State
15. Where do most of the clients come from? After discussing with the Key Informants,
determine if most of the clients of FSWs come from:
n The nearby villages/towns within the District
n Distant villages/towns within the District
n Outside the district within the State
n Outside the State
n Cannot determine (if the key informants are not clear about this)
16. Total number of Key Informants interviewed (including FSWs if any). Record the total
number of Key Informants you interviewed to arrive at the information. If any FSWs are
interviewed, include them also in this number.
17. Total number of FSWs interviewed. Record the total number of FSWs you interviewed
in the village.
18. Date of visit to the village. Record the date on which you visited the village.
19. Names of Assessment Team Members. Record the names of both team members here.
20 Verified by: All forms need to be verified by the supervisor and his/her name recorded
– 57 –
DISTRICT NAME:_____________________________ VILLAGE NAME______________________
DISTRICT CODE: VILLAGE CODE:
Item # Item Description Consolidation
1 Approximate distance to the nearest town (in kilometres).

2 Approximate distance to the highway (In Kilometer)
3 Does this village have a Santhe or a weekly market? YES/NO

4 Are there any big events (apart from Santhe) in the village such as
Jatre, fair, Mela, etc., which a large number of people from
other places? IF NO SKIP TO 6 YES/NO
5 How may such events occur in a year?
6 Are there any major factories/construction sites close to the village
(including within the village)?
7 Approximately how many persons from this village go out to work
temporarily (for a period of one week or longer)?
8 Approximately how many persons come to this village for work on
a temporary basis (for a period of one week or longer)?
9 Approximately how many individuals are currently infected with HIV?
10 Approximately how many individuals have died due to
AIDS/TB in the past 2 years?
11 Are there any female sex workers staying in the village? YES/NO
12 How many female sex workers stay in the village?
THIS NUMBER IS THE SUM OF THE NUMBER IN 12a and 12b
12a How many of these female sex workers do sex work in the village?
12b How many of these female sex workers live in the village, but do
sex work outside the village?
13 Among all the sex workers live in the village, how many
of them belong to Devadasis? ¯THIS NUMBER SHOULD
BE LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO THE NUMBER IN ITEM 12.
14 How many female sex workers from this village live and practice
sex work outside the village?THIS NUMBER IS THE SUM OF
THE NUMBER IN QUESTIONS 14a,14b and 14c
14a How many female sex workers from this village live and practice
sex work outside the village but within the District?
14b How many female sex workers from this village live and practice
sex work outside the district, but within this State?
14c How many female sex workers from this village live and practice
sex work outside this State?
15 Where do most of the clients come from?
– 58 –
RECORD ANY ONE CODE

1. From nearby villages/towns within District
2. From other villages/towns within District
3. Outside the District but within the State
4. Outside the State
5. Cannot determine
16 Total number of Key Informants interviewed (including FSWs if any)
17 Total number of FSWs interviewed
18 Date of visit to the village
19 Names of Assessment Team Members 1.
2.
20 Verified by:
Number of Field Teams and Duration of Fieldwork in each District

District Number Fieldwork Duration
Field Supervisor RRP Start End Number of

teams Date Date Days
Davanagere 15 5 1 8 Dec 22 Dec 15

Dharwad 12 4 1 10 Dec 22 Dec 13
Tumkur 30 10 1 6 Dec 20 Dec 15
Bellary 12 4 1 9 Dec 24 Dec 16
Kolar 30 10 2 13 Dec 27 Dec 15
Gulbarga 27 9 1 11 Dec 24 Dec 14
Koppal 12 4 1 8 Dec 20 Dec 13
Raichur 30 10 1 24 Dec 1 Jan 9
Bangalore Rural 35 12 1 9 Dec 20 Dec 12
Total 203 68 10 6 Dec 1 Jan 26
– 59 –
ANNEXURE 3
Tool:
Available Front-Line
Village-Level Workers
Source: MAMTA
Tool Type: Table
SACS, DAPCU/NGO
– 60 –
Criteria ANM MPHW ASHA AWW
Job n Providing services, giving n Malaria prevention and n Create awareness n Supplementary nutrition
Responsi medicines, tendering advice sanitation and provide information to feeding; record weight
bilities n Safe pregnancy and delivery, n As far as the implementation he community on determinants organise nonformal
contraception (FP) and of the RCH programme is of health such as nutrition, preschool activities in the
immunization concerned, male health workers basic sanitation and hygienic Anganwadi
n Screening and reporting of have a role in popularising the practices, healthy living and n Health nutrition education
diseases, e.g. leprosy, TB, male methods of family planning working conditions, information and counseling
malaria, filarial among men and educating as on existing health services on breastfeeding/ Infant and
n Weekly mobile schedule well as counselling men on and the need for timely utilisation young feeding practices
visiting villages and houses RTI/STI and HIV (AIDS) of health and family welfare n Carry out a survey of all the
and service families in work area once a
n Provide primary services year
medical care for minor n Undertake home visits
ilments such as diarrhoea,
fevers, and first aid for
minor injuries
n Counsel women on birth
preparedness, importance of
safe delivery, breastfeeding
– 61 –
and complementary feeding,
immunization, contraception and
prevention of common infections
including RTIs/STIs and care of
the young child
n Keeping and updating eligible
couple register of the village
concerned
Focus n Men, women and children n Men n Village communities n Pregnant and lactating
Group women,and children under
6 yrs
Interface n ANM under the NRHM is now n Expected to help female health n Work with the Village Health n Assist PHC staff immunisation,
entrusted with the following workers in immunisation and Sanitation Committee of health checkup, antenatal
responsibilities to strengthen sessions the Gram Panchayat to develop and post natal check,
and ‘mainstream’ ASHA and a comprehensive village distribution of IFA and
the health care facilities health plan Vitamin A, etc.
n Motivate married women to
adopt family planning
measures
Other n Maintaining contact with n Escort pregnant women and n Assist in implementation of
responsi PHC/CHC and District children requiring treatment/ Kishori Shakti Yojana
bilities hospital for attending meetings, admission Nutrition Program for
Adolescent
procuring essential supplies n Provider of DOTS and primary Girls
n Part of implementation of various health care n Identify disabilities among
schemesBalika Samridhi Yojana, n Depot holder for ORS, IFA, children during her home visits
Janani Suraksha Yojana, etc. chloroquine, Disposable Delivery and refer cases immediately to
n Data Collectionpart of many surveys Kits, Oral Pills & condoms the nearest PHC or District
n Under the community needs n Inform about the births and deaths Disability Rehabilitation Centre
assessment approach (CNAA) is in her village and any unusual n Act as a resource person for
expected to prepare plans for her health problems/ disease the training of ASHA
area (bottomup approach) outbreaks in the community
n Act as a resource person for the to the SubCentres/Primary Health
training of ASHA Centre
n Promote construction of
– 62 –
household toilets under Total
Sanitation Campaign
Identified n ANM are exposed to community n Anganwari workers (AWW) are

problems politics and it is at this juncture that inadequately trained,
their gender, age, marital status, supervised and supported
social image, caste and political
affiliations (if any) are crucial.
n Subcentres are set in isolation
at varying distances from primary
health centers and ANMs posted
in these centers work in an
unassisted fashion with only transient
professional guidance from the
Medical Officer or lady health visitor
Coverage n 75% of the PHCs have Female n 41% of the SCs at the allIndia Number of beneficiaries per
Health Worker/ANM. level do not have a sanctioned Anganwadi worker has gone
n As of 2004 there is a short fall of post of male health worker. Only up from 70 in March, 2001 to 83
11,191 ANMs against the sanctioned 68% of sanctioned posts for SCs in March 2003 can hardly been said
post in India. have been filled. as significant, looking at the
n As of 2004 there is a short fall number of targeted beneficiaries.
of 67,261 Health Workers (Male),
Multipurpose Workers (Male)
against the sanctioned post in India.
– 63 –
ANNEXURE 4
Tool:
Number of A and B Districts
in each State
Source: NACO
Tool Type: Table
SACS, DAPCU, NGO
– 64 –
Sl. No. States Type A Type B

1 Andhra Pradesh 22 0
2 Andamans & Nicobar 0 1
3 Arunachal 0 0
4 Assam 0 1
5 Bihar 0 3
6 Chandigarh 0 1
7 Chattisgarh 4 0
8 D&N Haveli 0 0
9 Daman and Diu 0 1
10 Delhi 1 4
11 Goa 1 1
12 Gujarat 2 4
13 Haryana 0 0
14 Himachal 1 0
15 Jammu & Kashmir 0 1
16 Jharkhand 0 0
17 Karnataka 27 0
18 Kerala 0 4
19 Lakshyadeep 0 0
20 MP 3 1
21 Maharashtra 29 1
22 Manipur 9 0
23 Meghalya 0 0
24 Mizoram 3 1
25 Nagaland 11 0
26 Orissa 1 2
27 Pondicherry 0 1
28 Punjab 2 0
29 Rajasthan 2 5
30 Sikkim 1 0
31 Tamil Nadu 16 7
32 Tripura 0 1
33 Uttar Pradesh 3 2
34 Uttaranchal 0 0
35 West Bengal 2 5
Total 140 47
(List revised 8 February 2007)
– 65 –
ANNEXURE 5
Tool:
Roll-Out Plan
Tool Type: Table

DAPCU/District NGO
– 66 –
The Link worker scheme requires establishing Technical Resource Institutes (TRIs) before the
rollout of the Scheme. The rollout will initially take place in about 50 A and B districts of the
country. The first 50 districts must be identified by NACO. Suggested criteria for selection of
districts are:
n High prevalence of HIV in general population
n High percentage of highrisk groups
n High migration
n District Health Mission (under NRHM) constituted and functioning
NACO will finalise the TRIs. This will be followed by orientation of the key resource persons
from the TRI on the Scheme and the tools (Manual, Handbook and Job Aids) developed to
support the training and operationalise the Link Worker Scheme.
The first two months should be used by TRIs/SACS for adapting and translating the materials
(Modules, Handbook and Job Aids) prepared under the scheme and approved by NACO.
Some preparatory work is required at the District level to roll out the Scheme:
Activities Implementation Timeline from Date

Agency of RollOut
of Scheme
District vulnerability mapping Mapping of HRGs DAPCU/SACS 2 months (If earlier reports

and vulnerable groups/subpopulations on this are already
available, this step can be
omitted)
Adaptation and translation of the operational TRIs 2months
guidelines and other materials manual, handbook
and Job Aids
Selection of DRPs District NGO/ 1 month
DAPCU/SACS
Training of DRPs TRI 1 month
Identification of villages with 5,000 population or SACS/DAPCU/ 1 month
clusters of villages with 5,000 population with District NGO
presence of HRGs
Programme Planning: number of clusters/ DAPCU/ District 1 month
villages to be covered, key strategies, number NGO
of Link workers and supervisors needed
in the district
Selection of Link Workers DAPCU/ District NGO 1 month
Training of Link Workers DRP/Supervisor/TRI 23 months
Implementation of villagelevel activities by Link Worker and
Link Worker Supervisor
The percentage of HRGs in the District should be based on identification of HRGs in a District
through a mapping exercise that may have been undertaken in the previous 12 yrs. If no such
research has been undertaken during this time, the SACS/DAPCU should undertake this
mapping, which will form the basis for designing the implementation of the Scheme in the
District. The number of Link Workers and volunteers will largely depend on the number of
HRIs in the districts and how scattered they are.
The SACS/TRI must also initiate the selection process for District NGOs where the
implementation of the Scheme is to be done by NGOs. The intensive training of DRPs and
supervisors will precede the selection and training of Link Workers.
– 67 –
ANNEXURE 6
Tool:
Mapping
Source: MAMTA
Tool Type: Description with maps and tables
Supervisors and Link workers to know the resources
available in the village.
– 68 –
Introduction
Various contextual and structural factors prevailing in India are generally favourable to an
increased incidence of HIV/STIs across the country. Documented risk factors include: the
increasing pace of urbanisation, high internal population mobility, the unbalanced malefemale
ratio (leading to an excess of men in cities), geographical and economic disparities, illiteracy,
lack of preventive knowledge and skills, ruralurban differentials in knowledge, poverty, gender
roles and a spectrum of highrisk sexual behaviour (initiation of sexual activity at younger
ages, engaging in sexual intercourse without using a condom).
HIV has moved to the general population in many parts of the country, while awareness and
adoption of safe behaviours remain below desired levels. The specific objective of NACP III is
to reduce new infections as estimated in year 1 of the programme. The objective is further
divided into two segments one dealing with HighRisk Groups (HRGs) and the other with
general (“vulnerable”) populations. NACP III will focus on young persons, women and workers
while continuing with communication and service provision strategies for the general
population.
Why is it Important to Know a Village (in the context of the Link Worker Scheme)?
Vulnerability
In the context of NACP III vulnerability is defined as the degree to which an individual or a
section of population has control over their risk of acquiring HIV, or the degree to which those
people who are infected and affected by HIV are able to access appropriate care and support.
Women, youth and children in special settings, e.g. out of school (especially girls), children
of sex workers, orphans of HIV/AIDS and infected and affected children, IDUs and
migrants are the most vulnerable. For NACP III they shall be targeted through specific
Link Worker interventions.
Youth
Operational definition and nuances of the term “youth” often vary from country to country,
depending on the specific sociocultural, institutional, economic and political factors. WHO
defines young people as between 1024 years. Consistent with the earlier policy of NACO
youth will be defined as persons in the age group of 1529 years.
Out-of-school people
All those young people in the official schoolage group who are not enrolled in school.
Why should we target youth?

Nearly 33% of reported AIDS cases up to June 2005 are in the 1529 year age group.
Physiologically, young people are more vulnerable to STIs than adults, and girls are more
vulnerable than boys. Gender power imbalances, societal norms, poverty and economic
dependence all contribute to young people’s risk of STIs. Many young people lack control over
the choice of their marital and sexual partners, how many partners they have, the circumstances
– 69 –
and nature of sexual activity and the extent to which sex is consensual or protected. Many lack
information and access to condoms or are unaware of the risk. The pandemic also has an
impact on young people who live with an HIVinfected parent.
Almost 73% of young people surveyed in 2001 carried misconceptions related to modes of
transmission of HIV/AIDS. Few know where to go to access contraceptive supplies or other
services. Evidently, consistent use of condoms is much lower. Some young people, such as
street children, adolescent sex workers, orphans and migrants, are marginalised from
mainstream services and society and hence are even more vulnerable. Their poverty forces
them to endure situations that put them at risk of unprotected sex and substance use.
Women
All women in the reproductive age group of 1549 are the target group or stakeholders.
Why should we target women?

Women have about a twofold higher incidence of HIV than men, due to female sex work, as
well as a higher biological susceptibility of high and lowrisk women to HIV1 infection. The
higher incidence among women is likely to be maintained until 2015, and more of the women
infected will be lowrisk women (mainly wives of men who visit sex workers sometimes or
often).
Children
The Convention on the Rights of the Child defines children as persons up to the age of 18 years.
Why should we target children?

In 2002, an estimated 4 million children lived on the street in India. As of 2003, approximately
35 million children in India under the age of 18 had lost one or both parents due to all causes,
which is approximately 9% of all children. It has been estimated that 170,000 children below
the age of 15 years are infected with HIV/AIDS in India. Children born to women in the sex
trade are at high risk of HIV/AIDS and vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. 57,000 children
are infected every year through mother to child transmission. The cumulative number of HIV
infected children (015 years) reached 220,000 by 2004.
What is Mapping For?

Mapping is commissioned to provide an assessment of the locations and typology of vulnerable
populations which NACP III is planning to reach through the Link Workers Scheme. Women,
youth and children in special settings (out of school [especially girls], children of sex workers,
orphans of HIV/AIDS and infected and affected children, IDUs and wives of migrants) are to
be identified and documented. The objective of mapping is to find clusters or locations where a
vulnerable population (but not HighRisk Groups) is located in any village. The exact number
is not important to note, but at the village level the locations are to be identified.
The mapping operation should include identification of the boundaries of the village, preparation
of sketch maps and identification on the map of areas in the village where these vulnerable
populations reside. (Households are found in dwellings, dwellings in structures and structures
in the village.) In this way the target audience gets an unbiased chance of being exposed to
awareness generation campaigns, and Link Workers and volunteers will be able to focus on
these clusters.
– 70 –
Session 1: Knowing my Village
Time: 56 hours

Materials: Maps, tracing paper, pens, pencils
Preparation: Make advance preparation for going out to the village and interacting with key
stakeholders
Location Mapping Process

1. Draw a Location Map (see Figure 1) showing the location of the village and how to get
there.
2. Do not forget to place the ORIENTATION TO THE NORTH sign. Mark on the boundaries
the name of the immediate neighbouring villages and include all useful information to find
the village.
3. This rough sketch will serve as guide for the Link Worker or the DRP when they begin the
monitoring work.
Lay-Out (Detailed) Mapping Process

1. Draw a layout map (see Figure 2) showing all roads, streets, paths, important landmarks
and all structures in the village (see Figure 3 for standardised symbols to be used in the
maps). It is useful to make a rough sketch map of the relative location of landmarks,
public buildings (such as schools, temples and markets) and main roads. The mapping of
the village should be done in a systematic manner so that there are no omissions or
duplications.
2. On the sketch map, mark the starting point with a large X.
3. Follow either a clockwise or anticlockwise direction from the starting point.
4. Place a small square at the spot where each structure in the village is located. In some
areas, structures have been built so that they can easily be missed. If there is a pathway
leading from the structure, check to see if the pathway goes to another structure. People
living in the area may help in identifying any hidden structures.
5. For any nonresidential structure, identify its use (for example, a store, school or factory).
6. In the rural area where structures may be grouped in small villages or hamlets, cover the
entire area hamlet by hamlet. Whenever there is a break in the numbering of structures
(for example, when moving from one hamlet to another), use an arrow to indicate how
the numbers proceed from one set of structures to another.
7. In a village with scattered households, cover the village by dividing it into imaginary
segments radiating from the centre to the village boundary, i.e. each segment covering
some area from the centre to the village boundary. It is important to mark the segments on
the location map as well.
– 71 –
Identification of Vulnerable Pockets

Once the physical layout map of the village is ready, follow the following steps. The process of
data collection is through Key Informant interactions. In the first step, places where vulnerable
populations reside are identified through PRA technique by involving key stakeholders, and in
the second step these locations are validated through the Key Informant interactions.
1. Make copies (photocopies) of the map and preserve the original for further reference.
2. Call separately upon different stakeholders, i.e. school teachers, village panchyat member,
youth (male and female) of 1529 years, to identify the cluster or area where most of the
vulnerable population reside.
3. Temporarily attach (do not paste) a sheet of tracing paper over the layout map so that the
tracing paper can be removed without destroying the map, which can then be reused with
the next stakeholders. Check that you and the stakeholder can see the map below clearly.
Mark the orientation of the tracing paper on the map by marking the map with 1,2,3,4 on
the four corners beforehand and marking the same numbers at the same locations on the
tracing paper when it is placed on the map.
4. Use colour codes (see Figure 4) on the tracing paper with reference to the map below it.
These colour codes do not bear any weight or priority, but to maintain uniformity follow
the same colour scheme through out the Link Worker Scheme. Ask the stakeholder where
a specific group of vulnerable population resides, and on the tracing paper mark the
respective colour code on the identified spot.
5. Meet the next stakeholder and follow step 4 on a new sheet of tracing paper placed over
the map.
6. Do not influence stakeholders’ perceptions, and do not share information among the
stakeholders. The purpose is to validate information from different sources, so as to minimise
the influence of individual perceptions and knowledge.
7. When data from all stakeholders has been collected superimpose all the sheets of tracing
paper, keeping the 1,2,3,4 marks on all the sheets aligned with each other. Now the set of
marked papers superimposed on the map will give a picture of the vulnerable clusters in
the village, identifying locations/pockets that the Link Workers and volunteers are to reach
with focused interventions. Inclusion of more than one stakeholder’s opinion will help
reduce any omission and/or bias in identification by any specific stakeholder.
8. Mark the cluster/areas with colour codes on a fresh copy of the map to prepare the final
vulnerable pocket map of the village. (See Figure 5.) Repeat the same process to make
more copies and preserve the original.
9. Identification of a cluster or a group of families does not in any way indicate that these
individuals are more prone to infections; thinking that way could make them the target of
stigmatisation. As fellow villagers who have supported each other over the years, we
must continue to do so through this Scheme.
Updating the Maps

It is important to update the maps regularly in order to enhance the Scheme’s ability to reach
the target population. Although there might not be any physical changes in the village’s
structures, the character of any particular household may change over time. Even at the very
beginning, the mapping exercise may have missed a particular vulnerable section in the village.
It is also possible that in the course of their work, a volunteer or Link Worker may come across
a new dimension of vulnerability which must be added to the original map. The number of
additions to the map may also be indicate the constant interactions between the community
and volunteers/Link Workers.
– 72 –
Figure 1. Location Map of Village
Adapted from NFHS III India Manual for Household Listing, January 2006, IIPS, Mumbai
– 73 –
Figure 2. Layout Map of Village
Adapted from NFHS III India Manual for Household Listing, January 2006, IIPS, Mumbai
– 74 –
Figure 3. Symbols to be used for mapping
Sl. No. Descriptions Symbols
1 Orientation to North
2 Village boundary
3 Residential house
4 Nonresidential house
5 Vacant dwelling unit
6 Pukka road
7 Kachcha road
8 Footpath
9 Broad gauge railway line
10 Meter gauge railway line
11 River
12 Dry river bed
13 Mountain/Hill
14 Canal
15 Pond
16 Well, tubewell, water tap
17 Market
18 Temple
19 Mosque
20 Church
– 75 –
Sl. No. Descriptions Symbols
21 School
22 Dispensary
23 Subcentre
24 Primary Health Centre
25 Community Health Centre
26 Government Hospital
27 Private dispensary including RMP
28 Private hospital
29 Panchyat/Administrative Building
30 Post Office
31 Bridge
32 Railway station
33 Electric pole
34 Tree/Bush
35 Where youth meets
36 Youth Club
37 NGO
38 Residence of volunteers
– 76 –
Figure 4. Colour Coding list of vulnerable population
Sl. No. Description Colour Colour Sample

1 Outofschool Girls Blue
2 Outofschool Boys Green
3 Alcohol user Yellow
4 IDUs Black
5 Houses from where male Orange

members migrated
6 Orphans of HIV/AIDS and Violet

infected and affected children
7 Street Children Red
Note: This list is not exhaustive. Further vulnerable populations within the ambit of the Link
Worker Scheme may be identified and included beyond the existing list of colour codes.
– 77 –
Figure 5. Layout Map of Village with Vulnerable Population Mark-up
– 78 –
Session 2: Identification and Recruitment of Link

Workers (for DRP)
Time: 180 minutes
Materials: Maps, tracing paper, pens, pencils
Preparation: District and tehsil maps as described in this session should be procured well in
advance
Process
Link Workers are supposed to be responsible for 5 villages while the village will be served by
villagelevel volunteers. Recruitment of Link Workers in a State and at national context can be
daunting. To streamline this task, microlevel planning at the District level through DAPCU is
required; this is to be spearheaded by the District Resource Person (DRP). The Census of India
in its District census handbooks publishes maps of each District along with detailed tehsil maps.
These can be put in use to identify, regulate and monitor the selection process.
Use of District Map

In any District map the location of all the tehsils is displayed (see Figure 6). Detailed maps of
the concerned tehsil can be used for microplanning of the selection process. More than one
tehsil is to be targeted to meet the selection process deadline.
Use of Tehsil Map

In the tehsil map (see Figure 7) the boundary of every naya panchayat is demarcated (look
carefully in the legend and compare with the map to identify the demarcation). Mark the
outline of the naya panchayat (see Figure 8). These naya panchayat are the smallest
administrative units, comprised of a number of villages. On the tehsil map marked with the
boundary of all naya panchyat, mark the starting point with a large X. The selection process is
to begin at the naya panchayat level until the selected Link Worker number reaches thirty, so
that a batch from one side of the administrative division is identified. Once the Link Workers
are selected, mark the villages from where the Link Workers have been selected (see Figure 9).
The jurisdiction list (JL) may be necessary to identify the village, as the Census uses JL Numbers
instead of names to represent villages on the maps, to increase legibility. These JL numbers are
available in the Census handbook. The eighteendigit location code of the village can be used
as this also bears the number of the naya panchayat.
The completed maps can be used to monitor the progress of the Scheme on the ground. At any
given time, the total number of recruited Link Workers is to be expressed as a proportion of the
total naya panchyats (e.g. 50% of Link Workers in tehsil X have been selected in the first month).
The subsequent month’s record should indicate the proportion in the current month and the
cumulative over previous month as well. This data can be helpful in organising the orientation
of Link Workers, training and subsequent followup trainings. These completed maps can also
be a reference for the District Resource Persons to schedule monitoring visits and identify sub
– 79 –
optimisation of the Link Worker capacities. Any changes among Link Workers should
immediately be marked on the map to keep an updated record, as the new Workers will require
training and more supportive supervision to maintain quality of programme delivery.
Description of Rural Code Directory
Sl.No. Description Character Indicates
1. STCD 2 State/UT Code
2. Location CODE 18 Location Code
Description of Location Code

Total length of the Location Code is 18 2 digits District Code
digits. Starting from left the 4 digits Tehsil Code
code represents: 4 digits Block Code
4 digits Naya Panchayat Code
4 digits Village Code
3. NAME 30 Name of the Location
Example of the Village Location Codes used in the Census

If a location CODE (LOC_CODE) is 01 0040 0060 0001 0002
this means
– 80 –
Figure 6. District Map
– 81 –
Figure 7. Tehsil Map
– 82 –
Figure 8. Tehsil Map marked with boundary of Naya Panchyat
– 83 –
Figure 9. Tehsil Map marked with Locations of Link Workers markings
– 84 –
ANNEXURE 7
Tool:
Job Aids
Tool Type: Table

DRPs and supervisors training Link Workers, and
the Link Workers
– 85 –
This is a suggested list to be finalised in consultation with SACS based on a review of available
material that has potential for use in the field. In addition, States are encouraged to use locally
developed communication material as well as to work closely with Jan Shikshan SansthanJSS
adult literacy centres for developing lowcost materials for working with communities.
Name of the Tool Issues Addressed Target group
1. Slide and Ladder Board Risk behaviour, myths n Unmarried, young

Game and misconceptions, HIV boys and girls
Board Game with transmission n For community
counters and dice level activities
2. Phad Monogamy/faithfulness; n Married young

Stories on flex condom use; supporting couples and those
partner for HIV testing in committed
partnerships
n Vulnerable populations
3. Colour TV Stigma, discrimination

Picture Game
4. Jaankari ki minar ICTC n All subgroups of young

15" tall tower made of Highrisk behaviours people
playing cards n For community awareness
and creating an enabling
5. Transmission Game HIV transmission and environment
Sunboard on acrylic with how it is not transmitted
different colour threads n Enhancing access to
services among HRGs and
6. Flip book Key messages covering highly vulnerable
(under production) transmission, testing, populations
stigma and discrimination.
Gender aspects are also
covered.
Other materials that can be included in the Job Aids
Penis model, model of female n For condom demonstration

reproductive organs. Condoms and to build skills of HRIs
and in the community
Golmal (UnifemCharca) Masculinity, gender,
HIV/AIDS
Song books (JHUCCP) Key messages covering a n For all subgroups of young
range of issues people
Jasoos Vijay (BBC) Key messages covering
n For community awareness
a range of issues and creating an enabling
environment
Instruction sheets will be provided for each of the above.
– 86 –
ANNEXURE 8
Tool:
Reporting Formats
Tool Type: Description and Templates
Supervisors, Link Workers and volunteers
– 87 –
Reporting Formats
The formats developed will be machinereadable so that the data collected every month by the
Link Workers can be compiled and be part of the MIS at the District level to be developed by
DAPCU. These will gather information on the process indicators at the frequency indicated in
the formats. The information generated by reports will be as follows:
Volunteers
Daily diary of activities giving information on the number of HRIs and young people reached,
BCC activities carried out, number of referrals made and linkages developed. The volunteer
will report this verbally immediately after any major activity and also in the monthly meetings
with the Link Worker.
The Link Workers will review this diary during their visit to the villages and collect relevant
information for further reporting.
Link Workers
Monthly report on HRIs contacted, number of young people mobilised, number of people
provided with information, number of volunteers trained, activities carried out to reduce stigma
and to assist the affected and infected people with psychosocial support, number of school
going and out of school, children imparted life skills, BCC activities carried out to help the
community to fight alcoholism and substance abuse, number of people provided access to STD
treatment and testing facilities, number of linkages developed with CBOs and NGOs as well as
other government schemes and programmes going on in the area, advocacy done at the cluster
level, and the number of Red Ribbon Clubs and condom depots established.
The report of Link workers must be maintained in such a way as not to mention the names of
HRIs and vulnerable groups. Since the population of HRIs may not be very big, a coding
system can be developed for the same.
Every Link Worker will maintain the following records for the purpose of reporting:
(i) A Map showing all households along with High Risk Individuals and bridge population
members
(ii) Householdlevel information on young people in the village
(iii) A register with details of activities of the Link Worker and information received from
volunteers. The register should have details of meetings attended/organised, trainings
conducted /undergone, referrals made and their follow up.
(iv) A logbook of visits made to areas of operation and to other health functionaries. The
same logbook will also include all logistics handled by Link Workers/volunteers, e.g.
condoms received, distributed, etc.
(v) A logbook of phone calls received as well as made to DRP.
– 88 –
The following information is to be reported on a monthly basis, village-wise.

Name of Link Worker __________________________________________________
Area ________________________________ Month ______________________________
Section Topic Females Males Cumulative Source
1. Number of people contacted

a. HRIs
b. Young people
1.i Through group meetings LW

(with Job Aids) Register
1.ii Through oneonone contacts
2. Condom usage Log book

register
2.i No. of condom depots established
2.ii Uptake of condoms
2.iii Frequency of supply of condoms
3. Linkages and Utilisation of Service

services (to be given separately for provider
HRIs and Young people) register
3.i ICTC services used
3.i.A STI clinic(s) visited
3.i.B No. of collected reports
3.ii PPTCT services
3.ii.A Undergone HIV testing

3.ii.B Test result collected
3.ii.C Partners counselled for testing
3.iv ART Centre
3.iv.A No. receiving ART regularly

(following treatment adherence
as per guidelines)
– 89 –
The following information is to be reported on a quarterly basis, village-wise.

1. Total Volunteers LW
Register
1.i Dropouts during the month
1.ii Volunteers identified
1.iii Volunteers trained Log book
register
2. No. of vulnerable locations
identified (HRGs and bridge
population) register and
Vulnerability map
2.i Nature of vulnerability
2.ii Size and composition of
vulnerable population
2.iii Location
3. Linkages developed
3.i Number of contacts with LW
Register
n ANM
n AWW
n ASHA
n PRI functionaries
3.ii Number of contacts with Log book
n PHC
n STI clinics
n ICTC
n PPTCT
n ART Centres
n DOT Centres
n Any other Pvt. Practitioners,
NGOs
4. Number of individuals from Service
highrisk groups and/or bridge provider
population availing services register
n PHC
n STI clinics
n ICTC
n PPTCT
n ART Centres
n DOT Centres
– 90 –
The following information is to be reported on a quarterly basis, village-wise. contd...
5. Addressing stigma and LW

discrimination Describe in Register
descriptive for all these episodes.
5.i No. of PLHA (male and female)
contacted
5.ii Number and nature of instances of
stigma reported by PLHA
5.iii Number of PLHA invited to
community functions
Additional Information to be submitted by supervisor as consolidated reports
1. Timely receipt of reports form Link Workers
No. received on time………… No. received late……………….. No. not received

…………………..
Received by the end of first week of next month = on time;
received before end of first fortnight = late; not received by the end of fortnight =not
received.
2. Names of villages visited and how often: ………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
3. No. of activities undertaken by Link Workers facilitated …….................…………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4. Activity undertaken by supervisor at community level……………......…………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………….
5. Visit of HighRisk populations…….......………………...………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………….
– 91 –
Additional Information in addition to above consolidated reports by DRP
1. Training of Link Workers:
No. of batches undergone training this month………………….

No. of Link Workers trained in each batch………………………
2. No. of FollowUp trainings conducted ……………………………
3. No. of locations/populations identified by LW and found acceptable as per laid guidelines
4. No of reports received from supervisors

On time………………….. Late ………………..... Not received
5. No. of feedbacks given to supervisors……………………….
6. Followup of linkages:
No. of visits to concerned department……………………….
Name of department visited………………………………
No. and place of records examined for referrals…………………………
7. No. of instances of stigma and discrimination in your District………………..
8. No. of Link Workers in place Male…………….. Female………………
9. No. of Link Workers Resigned (if any) Male………………Female…………….
10. No of Link Workers recruited: Male………………..Female……………
11. No. of volunteers given reorganisation: Male……………Female………………

Monthly consolidated data feed to the District and State units
In Time (if delayed please give reason)
– 92 –

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LINK WORKER SCHEME

National AIDS Control Organization

ANM : Auxiliary Nurse Midwife

ART : Anti Retroviral Therapy

BCC : Behavioural Change Communication

CBO : Community Based Organisation

DAPCU : District AIDS Prevention and Control Unit

DOT : Directly Observed Treatment

HRGs : High Risk Groups

HRIs : High Risk Individuals

ICTC : Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres

Monogamy : Monogamy is the custom or condition of having only one mate.

MPW : Multi­Purpose Health Worker

NACP : National AIDS Control Programme

NGO : Non­ Governmental Organisation

NIPCCD : National Institute for Public Cooperation and Child Development

NRHM : National Rural Health Mission

PLHAs : People Living with HIV/AIDS

PPTCT : Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission

RHS : Rapid Household Survey

STI : Sexually Transmitted Infections

TRI : Technical Resource Institutions

VCTC : Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centre

3.6 Selection and Responsibilities of Link Workers ....................................................... 24

3.6.1 Selection Criteria ............................................................................................... 24

3.6.3 Roles and Responsibilities ................................................................................. 25

3.6.4 Suggested Work Schedule ................................................................................. 27

3.7.1 Selection Criteria and Process .......................................................................... 28

3.7.2 Roles and Responsibilities ................................................................................. 28

3.8 Areas of Convergence ................................................................................................. 28

INTRODUCTION TO NACP III 1

1.2 Goal of NACP III

4. Establishing nation wide strategic planning, programme management, monitoring and

1.3 Programme Priorities and Thrust areas

n Injecting drug users (IDUs)

n Truck drivers/cleaners and

RATIONALE FOR LINK WORKERS IN NACP III 2

2.2 Definition of Link Workers

2.3 Existing Health Functionaries in the Public Health System

2.4 Objectives of the Link Worker Scheme

2.5 Expected Outcomes of the Link Worker Scheme

MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL 3

To channel this effort a four­tier structure is proposed:

3.1 The Implementation Agency

Figure 1. District Management Structure for Saturated Coverage by NACO/SACS

3.2 Institutional Structure

Figure 2. District Management Structure for the Link Worker Programme

3.3 Technical Resource Institutes (TRIs)

3.3.1 Criteria for a National TRI

Organisations/Institutions with a vast experience of working on reproductive and sexual

3.3.2 Criteria for a State TRI

3.4 Selection and Responsibilities of (DRP) District Resource Person

n Should have minimum of 3­5yrs of experience in rural development work

3.4.2 Selection Process

3.4.3 Roles and Responsibilities

n Promote availability of condoms at PHC

n Compile supervisors' reports and provide necessary data to DAPCU/NGO

3.4.4 Suggested Work Schedule

3.5 Selection and Responsibilities of Supervisor

3.5.1 Selection Criteria

MPW : MultiPurpose Health Worker

NGO : Non Governmental Organisation

To channel this effort a fourtier structure is proposed:

n Should have minimum of 35yrs of experience in rural development work

n Prepare monthly reports for his/her area according to a predefined format

n Number of DRP and Supervisors trained (Basic Training) quarterly

n Number of replaced/newly recruited DRPs/supervisors/Link Workers trained this will

6.1.2 (a) ORIENTATION TRAINING 14 DAYS

6.1.2(b) FOLLOW UP TRAINING 2 DAYS

6.1.3 ONETIME COSTS