Rakshabandhan day for Sex Workers

[Guest guest]

August 21, 2002: PHO's RAKSHABANDHAN TRANSFORMS SEX WORKERS in to 'HUMAN BEINGS'

The simple and apt Social Rakshabandhan program organised on the eve of

'Raksha-Bandhan' by SAHELI PROJECT of the Peoples Health Organisation (India),

made a big difference in the lives of the sex workers. At the end of the

hour-long program the sex workers from the infamous and dingy lanes of

Kamatipura - India's biggest red-light district, remarked that 'today we feel

that we too are human-beings' and this is the most-precious gift to us from the

PHO.

PHO has been organising RAKSHA BANDHAN program since 19 years as an effort to

re-socialisation of the most neglected section of society by making it part of

its comprehensive efforts for minimisation of medico-social impact of STDs and

HIV, aiming at 'change of attitude' strategy. Cine-star Kunika Sadanad was guest

of honour. Peer leaders of the sex workers termed as Sahelies tied rakhies to

the office bearers, doctors and staff of PHO and invited guests- Prof.

K.C.Mohanty and Dr. Abdul Kareem Naik. In exchange the PHO pledged to protect

the sahelies from HIV/AIDS and atrocities at the hands of anti-social elements.

In an emotional scene, Bharti- a six-year old daughter of a sex worker, walked

towards PHO team with a rakhi in her hand and with a desire to tie rakhi as a

first chance in her life to do so. PHO centres at Pune and other places in India

have organised similar programs today and tomorrow.

Appreciating the brave front put in by sex workers to fight AIDS, PHO Secretary

General Dr.I.S.Gilada said, gestures such as Rakshabandhan, help these women get

a feel-good moment that can help consolidate their fight against several

problems like HIV/AIDS and provide a feeling of solidarity from society. If men

in the society treat women other than their sex partners as Sisters, Mothers and

Daughters, the world will be certainly a better place to live with far less of

HIV/AIDS and reduced atrocities on women. In materialistic society; where

rakhies, ceremonies and gift in exchange have all been commercialised, we can't

offer them money but can certainly make an honest effort to reduce the burden of

HIV/AIDS and their sufferings.

Onlookers and media witnessed the warmth of women with gaiety. Sahelies took off

from their routine: hours of wait for clients and 'monotony' of sex-servitude as

a survival strategy. Wearing traditional sarees, wielding thalis with aarati and

sweet the sahelies made conscious effort to leave behind their agony at least

for a day. Smiling faces waited eagerly for their " brothers " , in sharp contrast

to their usual garish of endless wait for clients. PHO exchanged greetings with

a 'Gift' carrying massage: BHAI KA BAS ITANA KAHANA, AIDS SE BACHIYE BAHANA (The

brother's only plea, 'Sisters protect yourself from 'AIDS').

Contrary to elsewhere, here Raksha-Bandhan did not discriminate the religion.

Sex Workers are confined to cages and dirty lanes, exploited by pimps, procurers

and police; are victims of life-threatening diseases with HIV infection rate

skyrocketing to 70%, with poor access to healthcare and no place to put up their

children. Major achievements in PHO efforts to uplift their lot has been: in

making of a globally acclaimed " Project Saheli " , that attempts to reduce the

impact of AIDS through peer-education; and a major HIV control in Mumbai

resulting in stabilisation of HIV infections, vis-à-vis rest of India. However,

in the making of this, nearly 50% of the city's estimated 100,000 sex workers in

1991 are sacrificed to HIV/AIDS and 25% of them migrated elsewhere, many with

HIV as well.

Peoples Health Organisation (India)

Municipal School Building, J.J. Hospital Compd, Mumbai-400008

Tel.+91-22-3719020; 3061616 Fax: 3864433. Web: www.aidsasia.info;

www.aidsindia.info E-mail: ihoaids@...

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