Today is the World AIDS day. The day is observed to spread awareness and step up efforts to prevent HIV/AIDS. The goal set for this year is to accord basic human rights to HIV victims while giving a push to prevention, treatment, care and support for those living with the syndrome. AIR correspondent Sarita Brara says that new HIV/AIDS cases in India came down by 50 per cent last year as compared to 2001. “The recent UN AIDS report has lauded India for its AIDS prevention programme saying that it is doing even better than the United States. While in 2001 the number of people who got the virus was 2.4 lakh, it came down by half to 1.2 lakh last year . Among the total number of people affected with HIV in India 40 percent are women and almost 90 percent of the newly infected got the virus due to un protected sex. However, the trends show that prevalance rate is coming down among women sex workers. In the north-east, the main mode of contamination is infected needles shared by drug users. While India has launched an aggressive awareness campaign, the long awaited Bill aimed at protecting the rights of HIV infected persons and addressing discrimination at work places against them is still to see the light of the day. The Red Ribbon Express in India, the world's largest mass mobilization drive against HIV-AIDS which returned to New Delhi a few days back travelled through 22 States during its year long journey, halting at over 150 stations covering 80 lakh people. Thirty five lakh people were tested and counselled during the journey of the special train. In the capital apart from other programme, a Red Ribbon marathon will be flagged off today to create awareness about HIV-AIDS.In Madhya Pradesh, several programmes are being organized on the occasion of World AIDS Day today. Our Bhopal correspondent reports that rally, workshops and programmes are being organized in all the 50 district of the state to make people aware about Aids and HIV. AIR correspondent Shariq Noor reports that in capital Bhopal, different organizations including NSS and Red Ribbon Club organized rallies and workshop to give youth's detailed information about AIDS. All the five government medical collages of the state also organized different awareness programmes. With a view to control AIDS, a state-wise campaign has been launched under 68 projects in Madhya Pradesh. Sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics titled Yugal Mangal have been established in all the district hospitals in the state. The Madhya Pradesh AIDS Control Committee has also set up 180 integrated advice diagnostic centers at district hospitals, medical colleges and selected community health centers while 583 Red Ribbon Clubs have been set up through seven universities. In Karnataka, Government officials, AIDS workers, cine stars, doctors and the youth joined hands today on World AIDS Day to eradicate HIV infection from the state. Karnataka stands third in the country with an estimated 2.5 lakh people, living with HIV. The State Government is implementing HIV prevention programmes in partnership with 41 targeted interventions.A series of functions are being organised throughout the country today to spread awareness and step up efforts to prevent HIV- AIDS. In the national capital , the main function will be held later in the day at Safdarjung railway station, as the Red Ribbon Express returned to New Delhi a few days back travelling through 22 States. This is so far the world's largest mass mobilization drive against HIV AIDS. The train halted at over 150 stations and covered 80 lakh people. Its year long journey facilitated counselling of over eighty thousand district level resource persons and tested thirty five lakh people.AIR correspondent reports a Red Ribbon marathon was also held in the national capital this morning to create awareness about HIV AIDS.