10-Year-Old Carries Mother's Body for Post-Mortem After Village Ostracizes Family Over AIDS

• A 10-year-old boy in Etah, Uttar Pradesh, was forced to carry his mother's body for post-mortem alone after the village ostracized them due to her HIV diagnosis.
• The mother, 52, was undergoing treatment for both tuberculosis and HIV and passed away at the district hospital.
• The boy's father also died last year from HIV, leading to the family's social isolation and the boy dropping out of school.
• Police and hospital staff intervened to arrange the post-mortem and last rites after the boy sat with his mother's body for hours.
• The boy now fears for his safety, alleging that relatives are threatening him to seize his land, having offered no help during his mother's illness.

Why It Matters: A child's tragic ordeal highlights the severe social stigma and lack of support for HIV-affected families.