Rakshabandhan-2005 for Sex Workers

[Guest guest]

First Rakshabandhan of Sex Workers without Mr. Sunil Dutt -a Rare Emotional

Scene Today's event of Rakshabadhan turned out to be a rare emotional revelry

when Sex Workers turned out in hundreds for their first Rakshabandhan after

death of their beloved brother Sunil Dutt. At the Social Rakshabandhan program

organised by PHO's SAHELI PROJECT in the heart of India's largest red-light area

and the infamous 'cages' of Falkland road, Sex workers observed a minute's

silence in memory of Duttsab. Then they garlanded his photograph with flowers

and 'Rakhies' and tied rakhies to PHO Secretary Dr.Ishwar Gilada, PHO

Executives Prof. K C Mohanty, Ram Ashar and others.

Such a simple, emotionally charged and apt resocialisation program does make a

big difference in the otherwise shadowy and frustrating lives of the sex

workers. At the ceremony sex workers recounted their memories of Mr. Dutt, who

had uninterruptedly attended Rakshabandhan programs for 12 years and was

appreciative of the efforts of sex workers in educating the society about the

ills of HIV/AIDS and promoting safer sex.

PHO has been organising RAKSHA BANDHAN program since 22 years as an effort to

mainstreaming of the most neglected sections of society by making them part of

its comprehensive efforts to minimise medico-social impact of STDs and HIV,

aiming at 'change of attitude' strategy. Peer leaders of the sex workers termed

as Sahelies tie rakhi - a thread of brother-sister relationship - to PHO

functionaries.

In exchange the PHO re-enforces its pledge to protect them from AIDS and

atrocities by anti-social elements.

Taking a day-off from monotony, wearing traditional saris, wielding thalies with

sweets, sahelies made conscious effort to leave behind their agony for a day.

PHO exchanged greetings with a Gift-Thali carrying massage: BHAI KA BAS ITANA

KAHANA, AIDS SE BACHIYE BAHANA (brother's only plea, 'sisters, protect yourself

from AIDS).

Major PHO achievements has been to uplift them through a globally acclaimed

" Project Saheli " that perceptibly reduced the impact of AIDS through

peer-education; as also stabilisation of HIV infections in Mumbai vis-à-vis rest

of India. At the end of the 3-hours long

program, the sex workers from the infamous and dingy lanes of city redlight

areas remarked equivocally that PHO did make a perceptible change in their lives

and hoped somebody would come forward to replace the void created by Duttsab's

death.

_____________________

Peoples Health Organisation (India)

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

Tel.+91-22-23719020; 23061616 Fax: 23000016;

E-mail: ihoaids@...

PRESS RELEASE

August 18, 2005