SBI to the rescue of sex workers in Kolkata

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STATE BANK OF IINDIA (SBI) to the rescue of sex workers in Kolkata

Kolkata June 14, 2004 3:49:55 PM IST

In a landmark move, State Bank of India (SBI) has opened savings

accounts for sex workers, smashing taboos in the conservative society

where the low-end commercial practitioners are treated as vermin.

Prostitution is illegal in India but all major cities have " red light

areas " where prostitutes can be hired for as little as two U.S.

dollars.

Most such women, estranged from social security systems and

ostracised by society, live in sickening conditions, often falling

prey to various sexually transmitted diseases like HIV/AIDS.

For the women who cannot even dare to approach a kiosk in a respected

city area, standing in queues along with other citizens, being

treated as any other customer has been a moment of a lifetime.

" The fight which we are carrying out for ourselves... this is a step

in helping ourselves. We were not able to make any savings earlier

but now we can deposit our money in accounts, it is really convenient

for us, " Chabi Kar, a sex worker, said.

" It is very good for us as we can open our accounts and there is no

need to show a voter card or a ration card, " Ranju, another sex

worker, said.

Prostitutes in India have no ration cards or voter IDs, literally

making it impossible for them to avail absolutely any social

benefits.

In Kolkata itself there are at least 40,000 sex workers, none are on

official records.

To tackle the peculiar identity crisis, State Bank of India has roped

in a voluntary organisation which stands up for them to fulfil

identity formalities required under the law.

The SBI has also lowered the minimun balance amount to Rs. 250 as the

women are too poor to afford the usual Rs. 1,000 stipulation.

" We saw these people were in trouble as they were unable to open

their accounts due to unavailability of voter card and ration card.

So we coordinated with bank authorities and also got them to open

their account for an (initial) deposit of 250 rupees, " Bharti, the

programme coordinator, said.

Of the country's three million sex workers, 94 percent are Indians,

while the rest are mainly from neighbouring Bangladesh and Nepal.

At least 600,000 minors are also employed in the profession and their

number is said to increasing by almost 10 per cent every year.(ANI)

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