Make us to be the part of society without discrimination

                                                                                                                   –    sex workers

The sex workers in the society are facing extreme challenges due to outbreak of COVID 19 pandemic. Sex workers are in fact the survivors of human trafficking who have been compelled to entangle in to prostitution because of the social stigma and discrimination, violence and lack of alternative livelihood through them in to the vicious cycle of debt bondage due to their poor financial circumstances. Smt. Meharunnisa – Convener of VIMUKTI State Forum demanded the state and central Government to support the sex workers on war foot basis for their alternative livelihoods.

A state level meeting has been convened at press club on Thursday on the occasion of “International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers” jointly by VIMUKTI and State Chapter of ILFAT (India Leaders Forum Against Trafficking).

There are around 1.5 lakh sex workers are in prostitution whereas only 1 lakh have been registered under the activities by APSACS. Further, there are 2000 rescued survivors from trafficking. Out of 60% of the sex workers in the state have been trafficked in between the age group of 15 – 20 years and are surviving as sex workers.

One of the survey by an international agency reveals that there is an increased rampant violence against sex workers which can be estimated up to 55%. Out of such victims 35% covered by those who are staying in brothel houses, 58% covered those who are doing their business from highways, bhabas and road side prostitution and 45% are facing violence by brothel owners and family members.

There is an unwarranted bitter affect of COVID 19 against those marginalised groups whereas it is highly destructive against sex workers. 70% of the sex workers have been returned back to their native villages/towns from various red-light areas across the country and also from various prostitution localities of different districts in our state too. Its indeed an indispensable plight to the sex workers to return back to their families and their villages as well. Because, “get back to homes” is not at all a selected option to the sex workers because of the age-old stigma and discrimination around the prostitution so far.

The organisation called SATVA has conducted a sample survey with  sex workers who got back from different areas. The findings are as below:

o   There is 100% downfall in their earnings

o   74% of them have taken loans for higher interest amounts

o   88% of them have revealed that there are no alternative livelihoods whereas 61% expressed that there is no any sort of livelihoods for them.

o   57% are ready to adjust with any kind of livelihood options but they couldn’t avail any such option because of the COVID affect. This resulted in facing very pathetic situation by them and their family members.

o   After lifting lock down, some of the sex workers are able to access with some sort of livelihood. But, because of lack of education and skills and also knowledge on different livelihoods, they are earning very meagre income which is not sufficient to meet their family expenses.

o   Some of the other factors that are making alternative livelihoods are impossible or as an annoying option for them are: there is no availability of livelihoods as they interested, there is no space available for them out of brothel houses, hesitation to take up livelihoods or employment while living in brothel house as they are feeling ashamed and fear of unacceptance by society and also lack of support to nourish their children when they go to work and also they don’t want to leave their children alone in brothel houses and so on. Further, they are troubling with false/fake assurances by some of the organisations/agencies.

DEMANDS:

  • Don’t exclude us from the benefits of the Govt. welfare schemes or support services. Take steps to mainstream us in to the society as we are in poverty and helpless situations.
  • Provide us with equal rights like all other citizens in the country like access with ration cards, Aadhaar cards, bank accounts and provisions under Jan Dhan Yojna and rights to access financial benefits through forming self-help groups.
  • The Government shall recognise that, we are suffering with many problems and facing challenges not only by the brothel house madams, managers and pimps but also by the corrupted police officers and money lenders those who are exploiting us with higher interest amounts. Simultaneously, we request to make a policy for our holistic empowerment, enabling us to enjoy our rights and also protecting us from all sorts of violence and exploitation against us.
  • Don’t look at us as criminals. Please penalise those real criminals who are committing sexual exploitation against us and are grabbing our money by taking advantage of our helplessness.
  • Please make a policy at central and state level for protection and economic rehabilitation and empowerment ofsex workers those who crossed 35 years to prevent them from converting as brothel owners, pimps, madams and traffickers.
  • Don’t breach/violate our human rights in the name of rehabilitation through forced detention in shelter homes for months and years long. Instead, please adopt community-based rehabilitation system.
  • We wish to see a comprehensive legislation that addresses or prohibits all sorts of human trafficking issues.
  • A monitoring committee shall be established by the state government for frequent monitoring of the policies and Acts to address the issues of human trafficking. The rescued survivors of trafficking and sex workers are also to be the members in this committee.
  • Sex workers are to be imparted with different livelihood option and are to be facilitated with immediate alternative livelihood.
  • A special survival package to be arranged during their training period.
  • The Government shall take care of the social entitlements (housing, health cards, identity proofs and ration cards) of sex workers along with the education and protection responsibilities of their children under GO.MS. No. 1/2003.
  • The Government of Andhra Pradesh shall release the sex workers form their debt bondage. The cycle of debt bondage to be broken through providing financial security (opening bank accounts, to open new ventures through bank loans and starting savings for future) in the form of alternative livelihood planning.
  • The sex workers who are availing their services of APSACS only have been registered in their records. So, a policy shall be framed to cover or register remaining sex workers also in the state.
  • So many women in prostitution belongs to BC, SC and ST categories who are to be supported to avail loan benefits under GO.MS. No. 1 through respective corporations. Simultaneously, there shall be a recommendation by the respective sex workers CBOs which is transparent and accountable. All the women could be covered under various welfare schemes under respective wings.
  • Awareness to be created among sex workers on how to make best use of the list of Government schemes and utilising the benefits under respective schemes.
  • The Government shall take action against social stigma and discrimination against the sex workers and rescued survivors of trafficking. People awareness campaigns/meetings shall be organised to remove the stigma against sex workers and to change the people perspective for increased acceptance of their social re-integration.
  • Ration distribution for 3 months and financial support to be provided to the sex workers as per the directions of supreme court in the context of COVID 19. Ration cards to be issues immediately to access with all kinds of support services by the state.
  • Compensation to be provided under Victim Compensation scheme to those rescued survivors of trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation since 2015.
  • Rs. 20000/- relief support under G.O.Ms.No. 28 to be sanctioned in the form of cash to meet their immediate expenses to the sex workers and rescued survivors within a month.
  • The procedures and policies to be framed with immediate effect for victim/witness protection scheme 2018 and make sure for its immediate implementation.

In this meeting, Smt. Bhanupriya – Convener – ILFAT State Chapter, Smt Rajani – Co-Convener, Conveners of various districts Smt. Pushpavathi, Smt. Chinna Durga, Smt. Mounika and Smt Janaki, Mr. Bhaskar – HELP State Coordinator, Mr. Mantru Naik and 20 VIMUKTI members from various districts have been participated.