The BBC World Service Trust, a charitable arm of the BBC's World Service, is setting up a production partnership with Prasar Bharati to campaign for HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention's

The project is being undertaken on behalf of the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) and will concentrate on the low-prevalence northern states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Rajasthan, Delhi and Haryana. The Beeb is now seeking senior creative personnel from India to head the year-long project, likely to be started by December this year.

The project will involve TV programmes targeted at youth, the most vital audience for an HIV / AIDS campaign, according to the BBC. One of the programmes envisaged an 'exciting' weekly half hour show aimed at 15-30 year olds watching Doordarshan from Delhi, Lucknow and Jaipur. There are also plans for broadcasting thrice-weekly short-form drama series at peak viewing times, from Doordarshan Kendras in Delhi, Lucknow and Jaipur. 'The series will engage the audience in a stimulating storyline that opens up the issues of relationship responsibility, sexual health and AIDS prevention', sources say. Plans are also afoot for launching an innovative phone-in show for young people on FM, with repeats on the main channel. This is scheduled to be the centerpiece of an AIR campaign on HIV/AIDS prevention from Lucknow.