Anna airs support for sex workers

On community radio, social activist speaks to prostitutes in Aurangabad and promises to back their fight for rehabilitation

Anna airs support for sex workers

On community radio, social activist speaks to prostitutes in Aurangabad and promises to back their fight for rehabilitation

Sex workers in Aurangabad have found a supporter in Anna Hazare. After their initiative with the community radio five months ago, the sex workers have managed to get the social crusader to keep fighting for their cause. Even before he had started his campaign for the Lokpal Bill, Hazare had solicited the support of over 2,000 sex workers from Aurangabad through their community radio station.u00a0

Speak up: Anna Hazare on the community radio

Sex workers Meena Shinde, Sangita Shelar, Meena Jagdhane, Jaya Jogdand and Hasina Shaikh were present with Hazare during his historic fast in Delhi in April. "He assured us he would visit and interact with sex workers after his success in Delhi. He kept his promise," Shelar said. Twelve days ago Hazare was in Aurangabad, live on air with the sex workers, and appealed to them to fight their own battle. "I shall back you and raise your issues with the government," he had said.

Sex workers in Aurangabad with founder and president of NGO
Snehalaya, Dr Girish Kulkarni

Shun Sections 7, 8
"In the live talk show we discussed the issues related to enforcement of Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act (PITA) by the police department," said Shinde. "The police arrest the women also along with the brothel keeper and the pimp under Sections 7 and 8 of the PITA, which is wrong. Our request to the government is that it should not apply Sections 7 and 8 of PITA." Dr Girish Kulkarni, founder-president of NGO Snehalaya, which started the community radio for the sex workers five months ago, said Hazare's 70-minute discussion with them had boosted their morale.

"Though many issues are covered by the proposed Lokpal Bill, Anna said the sex workers should not lose hope and keep fighting until the issue is resolved," said Kulkarni. Kulkarni said the main issue was rehabilitation of sex workers as per the directives given by the Supreme Court. "Our first battle is to press for submission of a scheme to the Supreme Court before June 16 and Anna is willing to support it," he said. "Like the rehabilitation of slum-dwellers and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, there are no efforts from the government to rehabilitate sex workers in the state. There is no provision to provide land, while educational facilities for their children is still a distant dream."