Sex Workers Among Most Denied Community In Karnataka

21 June, Bengaluru

Marginalised community of sex workers in Karnataka remains the most oppressed and deprived with even basicsocial schemes of government being denied to them,a studysaid.

Shakthi AIDS Tadegattuva Mahila Sangha and BIRDS with the supportof Centre for Advocacy and Research has released its report on thestudy titled Community-led Assessment on Access to Key Schemes andPrograms at Belagavi.

Conducted by 32 researchers drawn from the community of sexworkers themselves, the study revealed uneven inclusion of thecommunity with a mere 36 per cent of the 700 respondents surveyedbenefiting from educational schemes meant for marginalisedpopulations.

On schemes like Housing and Pension, the exclusion was as high as67 per cent.Releasing the report, Ms Motamma, Member of the KarnatakaLegislative Assembly, said sex workers were like any other women andthey should be respected and brought into mainstream society.

She also spoke of the various schemes like ‘Maithree’ and ‘ManaswiniPension’ schemes that were being implemented for marginalisedcommunities and said recommendations, based on the Belagavistudy would be made to the State Government to implement programsthat will reduce marginalisation, the vulnerability of sex workersand adolescent girls into trafficking and also enable them todevelop alternate livelihood skills.

”We are also happy that sex workers are being organized acrossthe districts of Karnataka. These organiSations should work with theGovernment to stop the human trafficking which is very high in northKarnataka,” she added