Sex workers chart out a new career path
TNN | Jan 31, 2012
ALAPPUZHA: Swanthanatheeram, the self-help groups (SHGs) of women sex workers in the district, instituted by the Kerala State Aids Control Society (KSACS), is proving to be a big success with around 40 erstwhile sex workers taking up alternative jobs to make a living.
No one exemplifies Swanthanatheeram's success than 50-year-old Santha (name changed) a former sex worker who now plays the chenda (a percussion instrument) to make a living.
"I became a sex worker after my husband deserted me and my three daughters 14 years ago as I had to educate my children and also marry them off. But after I joined Swanthanatheeram in 2007 after much persuasion, I learned to play sinkari melam (chenda ensemble) along with 12 members of my SHG. Now we perform in temples, churches and houses during all kinds of festivities," she told TOI.
"Now we are busy and have a lot of programmes as it is the festival season. I earn Rs 800 for a performance and we have at least three programmes a week," she says.
SHGs also have other success stories to tell. Five sex workers learnt to drive the auto rickshaw and bought auto rickshaws with SHGs help and are now leading a decent life; 10 sex workers, trained as hospital helpers, have found jobs in various hospitals; and another group of 12 women are all set to learn sinkari melam.
It was in September 2007 that KSACS constituted SHGs of sex workers in the district as part of its Suraksha project, which aimed to reduce the rate of HIV transmission among sex workers, and drug users.
Paulose Kuriakose, district manager, Suraksha, told TOI that initially the SHGs had only 11 members. Now there are 35 SHGs, and of the 1,821 commercial sex workers identified by the KSACS in the district, 1,002 have joined the SHGs. And as many as 40 have completely abandoned sex work and are making a living through the activities of their SHGs.
Dr Nisha R S, a councillor with KSACS in Alappuzha, said many of the sex workers had left the field after they realized they could earn a decent income through their SHGs.
Five sex workers learnt to drive autorickshaw, 10 trained as hospital helpers and another group of 12 women are all set to learn sinkari melam.
-- Sajimon P S
No one exemplifies Swanthanatheeram's success than 50-year-old Santha (name changed) a former sex worker who now plays the chenda (a percussion instrument) to make a living.
"I became a sex worker after my husband deserted me and my three daughters 14 years ago as I had to educate my children and also marry them off. But after I joined Swanthanatheeram in 2007 after much persuasion, I learned to play sinkari melam (chenda ensemble) along with 12 members of my SHG. Now we perform in temples, churches and houses during all kinds of festivities," she told TOI.
"Now we are busy and have a lot of programmes as it is the festival season. I earn Rs 800 for a performance and we have at least three programmes a week," she says.
SHGs also have other success stories to tell. Five sex workers learnt to drive the auto rickshaw and bought auto rickshaws with SHGs help and are now leading a decent life; 10 sex workers, trained as hospital helpers, have found jobs in various hospitals; and another group of 12 women are all set to learn sinkari melam.
It was in September 2007 that KSACS constituted SHGs of sex workers in the district as part of its Suraksha project, which aimed to reduce the rate of HIV transmission among sex workers, and drug users.
Paulose Kuriakose, district manager, Suraksha, told TOI that initially the SHGs had only 11 members. Now there are 35 SHGs, and of the 1,821 commercial sex workers identified by the KSACS in the district, 1,002 have joined the SHGs. And as many as 40 have completely abandoned sex work and are making a living through the activities of their SHGs.
Dr Nisha R S, a councillor with KSACS in Alappuzha, said many of the sex workers had left the field after they realized they could earn a decent income through their SHGs.
Five sex workers learnt to drive autorickshaw, 10 trained as hospital helpers and another group of 12 women are all set to learn sinkari melam.
-- Sajimon P S
Copyright © 2012 Bennett, Coleman Co. Ltd.
__._,_.___
---------------------------------------------------------------------
This is a message from the KeralaAIDS Yahoo Group
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Send Messages to KeralaAIDS@yahoogroups.com
To Subscribe : Send an email to KeralaAIDS-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
To Subscribe online : Visit http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/KeralaAIDS/join
---------------------------------------------------------------------
No comments:
Post a Comment