The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Tirupati News : Call to recognise rights of sex workers

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Friday, Mar 04, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Tirupati

Call to recognise rights of sex workers

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUPATI, MARCH 3. Recognition of sex workers as having equal rights should precede the ambitious plans being chalked out for their rehabilitation. This was the idea voiced by sex workers at a meet conducted by National Network of Sex Workers here on Thursday.

"Sex worker's Rights Day", observed on March 3, provided the forum for sex workers and "sexual minorities" like hijris, homosexuals, gays, lesbians and transgenders to air their grievances. A call was given to understand their plight and right to a decent life in society.

The meet was coordinated by a Tirupati-based NGO, Women's Initiatives (WINS) which was attended by sex workers from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

`We are more aware'

Insisting that they were not responsible for breaking families and family values, demeaning the dignity of women and for spreading diseases, they said: "We are more aware of the diseases and the prevention methods than an unsuspecting housewife having sex with her wayward husband," a sex worker said.

Short-stay home

CUDDAPAH: A short-stay home will be built at Veligallu in Galiveedu mandal on a 10-acre land to impart vocational training to rescued sex workers and equip them with skills to eke out a living, the Collector, Jayesh Ranjan, said on Thursday.

Addressing a meeting at the District Police Office, he also assured loans under Velugu and DWCRA schemes to the women. Directing stern action against persons luring women into flesh trade, he advised officials to assist them with a humanitarian outlook.

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Call to recognise rights of sex workers