Date:12/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/12/stories/2008041250970300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

No steps for welfare of sex workers: NGO

Staff Reporter

Kakinada: The conditions of commercial sex workers (CSWs) continue to be pathetic despite a slew of promises made by the government to alleviate their plight. The talk of empowering sex workers is seldom translated into action, according to K. Venkateswara Rao, executive director of CHANGES, an NGO working for the welfare of CSWs.

Speaking to reporters here on Friday, Mr. Venkateswara Rao said the instances of harassment of CSWs by rowdies were growing but they don’t have any means of protecting themselves in such situations. Moreover, the schemes meant for their welfare were not being implemented properly and it was making their lives even worse. But, nothing seems to be going in their favour. The role being played by CSWs in controlling HIV/AIDS was also overlooked by the government, he said.

Mr. Rao said that the flesh trade was flourishing as a large number of girls were being either lured into the trap or were pushed into the demeaning profession while a huge number of women were struggling without much result to liberate themselves from the clutches of organised gangs.