HST through a grant from the USAID AVERT society has set up a DIC and an administrative block in a commercial complex near Kalyan railway station on 11th July 2005. The center like other HST centers is functional from 12 pm to 8pm on all working days, except on Sundays and public holidays.

Here workshops are conducted to impart condom negotiation techniques to the peers and outreach workers to be further disseminated to field populations. The program staff, outreach workers, peers and community leaders have initiated community mobilization programs at the drop in center and activities such as talks on healthy sexual practices, condom negotiations with clients, legal status of sex workers and other get tog ether's for the community, these events are organized on a weekly basis for the drop in centers attendees on Saturdays. Experts from different fields including doctors, counselors and lawyers are invited to conduct sessions. There is a workshop committee that comprises of HST outreach team and community people, who plan, organize and implement these workshops. These workshops are essentially in Hindi and Marathi languages and are held on Saturday evenings 6 pm and 8.30 pm.

Community members who are looking for alternative sources income are provided with specially designed skills building programs, which enable them to take up work that will provide other alternate sources of income. Depending on the needs assessment of the community some of the programs that were taken up include:
a) Courses in computer operations
b) English language skills

There are also large community events that are organized to mobilize and develop rapport with community; these events are organized in the form of social gatherings / retreats and parties. These occasions serve as opportunities to address community stakeholders and community groups on HIV/AIDS and STI issues, mobilize community to contribute towards project activities and reduce stigma and discrimination towards PLHIV and MSM. In addition to this HST also observes World AIDS Week, World Health Day, and other marker days for greater networking and mass awareness. The DIC also has a functional help line service in its administrative block that is manned by the counselor who links people calling the telephone services for information to the DIC and project activities.

HST through this drop in center promotes abstinence, being faithful and consistent condom use with all partners, through the "Mere Jeevan Saathi and Jawan Hoon Naadan Nahin" campaign, it intends at promoting faithful relationships amongst MSM couples and youth. On similar lines it also promotes role models for abstinence and consistent condom use among MSM in a fun way.

Contact:
Mahesh Shinde - Project Coordinator
A8, 6th Floor, A wing, Sudhanshu Chambers,
Shivaji Path, Kalyan west,
Thane District: 421301
Ph: (91-0251) 6506536/ 2200793