Re:Sexworkers letter to the Kerala Chief Minister

[Guest guest]

This is in response to Gunasekar Rajaratnam 's message " " 3. ISSUE- Police

harassment This is perhaps an issue everywhere. I agree, something must be done

to stop this at a national level. But how? 1. SOLUTION- 2 months notice

Believe me, Any amount of threats to a state government will not bring about a

behavior change in the admin or police in 2 months " .

Dear Gunasekar Rajaratnam I don't believe you! Sorry--but while I think your

comments are useful, the ONLY way to start to make change is to make demands.

Does it mean the problem will be solved? Nope--there will always be bad cops.

But it brings pressure to make changes and reduce bad behavior.

You also said " 2. SOLUTION - Sit-in agitation Perhaps the organisers of the

mail have been influenced by the recent agitiations, processions, sit-ins, and

demonstrations at the same venue. Believe me, the solution to this issue does

not lie in such action. I agree such action will help in local issues such as

specific cases of harrassment. But not across a state, let alone 4 states or the

nation " .

Again, I don't believe you--however, I think that it is a bit ambitious to

have a 4-state demo--but not impossible. One critical element here is the media.

The way this can be made more successful is to get it in the press. Preferably,

a sympathetic media--but even negative press can incite people to think about

the problem. And many will rally against the injustice.

Media are also important AT the agitation/demonstration/action to document

it. And also, one hopes there is no need--but if the police misbehave

during the demonstration, that too is captured.

I think the strategies you outline are excellent and should be part of a

broader, longer term program. I'm not going to second-guess the need for an

agitation--but I trust that these women know what they need to do.

Peaceful demonstrations are a part of the Indian tradition! As they are in

many parts of the world. And they are an important response to violence and

ignorance.

M.

E-mail: <gmc0@...>

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[Guest guest]

[This is in response to Gunasekar Rajaratnam 's message. Moderator]

Dear Guna,

I have gone through the NACO-UNAIDS " Costing of focussed Interventions among

different sub-populations in India " . Page 13 of this document gives an

over-view of costing for interventions for CSWs/IDUs/MSM at US$ 26,613 for

addressing the needs of 1000 such sub-populationsi.e. @ US$26.6 per CSW per

year. This is the largest budget allocation in terms of focussed

intervention guidelines.

Converted into INR @ $1= Rs 49 this works out to INR 1303.4 per year i.e Rs

3.57 per day. Do you seriously believe that this small amount will cover NGO

operational costs, enabling environment building, direct intervention costs,

reporting, monitoring etc?

Questioningly yours

Anand

UNDCP

E-mail:<anand.chaudhuri@...>

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