While sections of  Indian civil society have mounted rapid responses to the HIV epidemic, and have been working in close collaboration with the government  to implement HIV prevention and care programs, there is scope for mainstreaming HIV into the work of non-HIV agencies.

The HIV'AIDS epidemic is inextricably linked to such social and environmental factors as poverty, gender-power relations, violence, environmental deterioration, agricultural failure, migration,  and inequitable development. Thus, civil society organizations working in all these areas of development would benefit from viewing their interventions with an HIV/AIDS lens,  motivating target populations to reduce HIV risk, provide motivation and referrals for counseling/testing uptake where needed, and helping foster enabling environments for adults and children living with HIV/AIDS. The Mainstreaming Initiative in Rajasthan will work with civil society agencies, including faith-based, community-based and other non-governmental organizations to help them mainstream HIV/AIDS into their strategies and work plans.