ON THE VERGE OF EXTINCTION: Baindla Pambala Katha from Medak district being performed at the Sate-level convention on folk artistes and entertainment workers in Hyderabad. — PHOTO: G. KRISHNASWAMY

HYDERABAD: Do you know that there are 140 folk art forms in the State and 80 per cent of them are on the verge of extinction? Findings of a Kolkata-based organisation Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (DMSC) suggest that folk artistes are also fast becoming vulnerable to sexual exploitation.

"Given the nature of their work which is related to art and entertainment, and lack of any other livelihood skill, they are prone to taking up sex work," says Ernest Leslie, project secretary, DMSC-AP. "At least this generation has some reminisces of their ancestral skills, the future generation will be cut off from their values and emotional base," Mr. Leslie says.

Though DMSC's core area is collectivisation of commercial sex workers, it is taking initiatives to preserve dying folk arts too.

The organisation recently organised a two-day State-level convention of folk artistes and entertainment workers of Andhra Pradesh in Hyderabad.

Similar initiatives are being taken by DMSC in Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Orissa, West Bengal and Maharashtra.

"The objective of this conference is to give voice to artistes and sex workers. The idea is to bring them under social security schemes, especially the ones for unorganised sector. We also want to propose legislation to support art and livelihood of artistes in the country," says Dr. Smarajit Jana, Advisor, DMSC. DMSC plans to form State-level forums and a regulatory body in six months to discuss issues plaguing this section with the Government.

"There is also need for the Government to take a re-look at the existence of sex workers as a social fact, which will help them know their rights, negotiate for safe sex practices and get rid of ostracism of society," he says.

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