LIVING WITH THE AIDS VIRUS: THE EPIDEMIC AND THE RESPONSE IN INDIA . Editors: Samiran Panda, Anindya Chatterjee, Abu S Abdul-Quader . Sage Publications . Rs 250 . 204 pages

This collection of essays traces the growth of the AIDS crisis in India and documents how the country has responded to it through both government and non-government programmes. While some have been successful, others have not been so, but there is always scope for learning from these experiences. The role of non government organisations (NGOs), the legal issues, and behaviour modification in the socio-cultural environment are dealt with at length. So are specific interventions targeting high-risk groups such as sex workers, drug users and homosexuals.

This is a well-researched book and will be of great assistance to health workers and policy makers and also to medical and social work students.