In an era when lack of information coupled by social prejudices prompted avoidance and sub-human treatment of people living with HIV/AIDS, 12 men and women chose not to keep their HIV status a secret and resolved to put up a fight against the forces that strove to crush their spirit. These 12 bold men and women decided to go on a journey; a journey that began with 1 major step, a step that would change the face of HIV/AIDS in India and bring fresh hope to many who had given up hope.

The genesis (1994-1997)
The idea of forming an association of PLHIV was born in 1994 and after several informal meetings. The 12 men and women living with HIV converged in Chennai on February 20, 1997 to form the Indian Network for People Living with HIV/AIDS. In April 1997, INP+ presented its activities and issues in the Social Development Fair held in New Delhi. As members shared their personal testimonies, many misconceptions among the public regarding HIV/AIDS were removed. At the 4th International AIDS Congress in Asia and Pacific in Manila (Philippines), INP+ had the opportunity to start networking with other like-minded organizations and donor agencies.

The struggle and growth (1998-2001)
In 1998 INP+ members attended the 12th World AIDS conference. INP+ expanded its work by establishing State Level Networks across India. Many donor agencies identified the activities of INP+ and extended support. In August 1999 INP+ conducted a needs assessment study among PLHIV focusing on the Stigma and Discrimination faced by PLHIV in India and eventually Greater Involvement of People living with HIV/AIDS (GIPA) became the prime principle of INP+. To meet new challenges, INP+ changed its structure to a more suitable and flexible one by creating a secretariat with a National Coordinator. The general Board was formed on the basis of democratic principles and the byelaws were formulated. Representatives of the SLNs came together to make decisions on major issues affecting them.
By 2000, INP+ membership had grown rapidly from 12 to 1000 members in 14 states. In this period INP+ became more assertive and started demanding for their rights in the form of accessibility to Anti retro viral drugs.

The recognition (2001 onwards)
In 2002, Mr K.K. Abraham took over as president and streamlined the activities of the organization into the triangular model of Advocacy, Network Building and Service Delivery. INP+ got representation in the UN Theme group Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) for the Global fund. INP+ began receiving recognition by the International HIV/AIDS community and became a member of the Global Network of Positive People, International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS (ICW) and Asia Pacific Network of Positive People (APN+). In 2002, INP+ developed its 1st strategic plan, incorporating vision, mission and objectives.

• PLHIV mobilization
  Work towards mobilization for improved prevention and quality of life of PLHIV communities through systematic, continuous development of the networks at various levels – state, district and Taluk/Block levels.
• Human rights
  Promote elimination of stigma and discrimination and protect human rights of PLHIV
• GIPA - Greater Involvement of People living with HIV/AIDS
  Implement and promote GIPA for empowerment of PLHIV and impact on programs and policies
• Access to information and services
  Ensure access to high quality information and services for positive prevention, positive living and continuum of care and treatment.
• Emerging needs of PLHIV
  Respond to emerging needs of PLHIV community, including sustainable options for livelihood and social security.
• Positive prevention
  To assist PLHIV to adopt safe sexual and injecting drug use behaviors that help not only in the prevention of transmission of infections to other people but also help to protect the health of PLHIV and their partners.
• Sustainable Society
  INP+ services are outcome focused, professionally managed, in partnership, evidence-based and sustainable
• Advocate for and support drugs and vaccine trials
  to make sure that they are ethical, clearly explained, strictly monitored and trial participants fully insured against negative drug effect, through participatory involvement. And also to promote, through advocacy efforts, a research atmosphere, not only in medical research, but also in different fields that will benefit PLHIV.

Major achievements

• For the first time in history, 189 nations came together at the UN General Assembly (UNGASS) in New York to discuss the global impact of HIV/AIDS. This was a unique session because it called for global action for a global crisis. INP+ was represented by its board members who discussed the situation of PLHIV regarding the provision of free anti retroviral drugs in India.
• In 2003, INP+ moved a step further in an effort to ensure that services moved closer to PLHIV by establishing the Life Focus Centre (LFC), intending that PLHIV have a life to lead after being infected.
  This year also brought recognition for INP+ in Media and gave a new image and visibility to the organization.
• INP+ represented its members in a workshop organized by International Labor Organization and presented a paper on the status and implication of stigma and discrimination in the work place.
• INP+ took part in the National consultation on Human Rights, Gender and HIV. The findings were presented of a study to  improve infrastructure and mechanisms to address the myriad concerns arising both within the context of gender and HIV/AIDS.
• INP+ attended a curtain raiser press briefing for the Parliamentarians at New Delhi on treatment ad prevention issues. It was the first time that PLHIV had been invited to address the Parliament of the Country.
• INP+ received the Access award at the XV International AIDS conference in Bangkok, Thailand. INP+ conducted a research to establish the barriers in scaling up of India's national ART program. Based on these findings, INP+ made recommendations to NACO. INP+ made further recommendations to multilateral/bilateral agencies and other major funders to provide assistance and to prepare a plan for universal access to ART in India by July 2005.
• In 2005-07 INP+ has been active on the advocacy front by reinforcing the need for 2nd line anti retroviral drugs.
• INP+ has been in the fore front in fighting the Patent applications pertaining to ARVs by filing PIL at various High Courts across India.
• INP+ advocacy regarding GIPA has paid dividends in the form of being accepted as part of NACO's overall strategy. The same also reflected in NACP 3.