Sonagachi: Celebration of 12 year completion of HIV project

[Guest guest]

Dear Sir/Madam,

It is with great honour that we complete 12 years of the renowned Sonagachi

Project on February 15, 2004. We are proud to invite you to our mega

celebration that marks a milestone in HIV/AIDS intervention projects.

We the DMSC (Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee), a sex workers' organization in

West Bengal, have been involved in an internationally acclaimed HIV program -

SHIP (STD/HIV Intervention Program) since 1992, widely known as the Sonagachi

Project.

DMSC took over the management of the SHIP project from All India Institute of

Hygiene and Public Health in 1999. We have been continuously mobilizing sex

workers in the districts to replicate the Sonagachi model in other areas of West

Bengal. Drop-in centres for counselling, referral and STD care services have

also been established among street- based sex workers and their clients covering

a population of over 20,000.

Our organization was formed when a need was felt by the management of SHIP to

empower the sex workers socially, economically, and politically to effectively

strengthen its implementation. In 1995, DMSC was created to provide a formal

structure to the already growing unity among sex workers. We are an autonomous

organization and function as an exclusive forum, to give the sex workers

community a platform to voice their opinions. With 66 branches, 39 STD clinics

and a strong membership of 60,000 sex workers across West Bengal, our objective

has always been to raise awareness concerning the AIDS epidemic, health

education, literacy and empowerment of sex workers and their families.

Furthermore, we are also involved in various non-formal educational programs

both for sex workers as well as the children of the sex workers for which we run

29 educational centres in and around Kolkata. As part of empowerment strategy we

also promote talents of sex workers through development of a cultural wing -

'The Komol Gandhar.' Our anti-trafficking unit controlled by the self-regulatory

boards, work across West Bengal to prevent the forcible entry of minors. We also

operate two homes to provide a safe shelter for children in distress. In

addition, for the improvement of economic security of the sex workers, a

co-operative society of the sex workers was registered in 1995. Presently there

are 5281 members and the annual turnover is more than rupees five crore.

Human right violations are rampant worldwide within the sex worker communities.

As a role model of our society, you have the power and influence to make a

difference in our community and halt the injustices that are perpetrated upon

us. Your involvement will leave a life long impression on humanity helping us

further our cause for social justice.

The celebrations will take place in Kolkata, India from 15 February 2004 to 3

March 2004. The details of the program are attached herewith.

Your involvement with the celebrations would be highly appreciated.

With best regards,

Swapna Gayen

Secretary,DMSC

Kolkata, India.

For further details please contact:

Convenor

Sonagachi'r Ek Yug (12 year celebration of Sonagachi Project)

12/5, Nilmoni Mitra Street

Kolkata 700006, West Bengal, India

Ph: +91 33 2543 7451/7560/7777

Fax: +91 33 2543 7777

Email: sonagachi@...

ship@...