By IANS,
Chandigarh : A city-based NGO Friday opened a drop-in-centre here to help improve the quality of sex workers.
“This drop-in-centre is just like a home for these sex workers. Here they can come and interact among themselves and even celebrate festivals together. We will arrange all the recreational facilities for them,” said Parmod Sharma, coordinator of the NGO Yuvsatta.
Sharma said that according to the statistics of the State AIDS Control Society, the number of female Commercial Sex Workers (CSW) in the city is around 3,500.
“Our drop-in centre will meet the needs of at least 850 CSWs, who are living in the adjoining slum colonies and villages. They can also discuss their problems with our expert counsellors. Knowledge will be imparted to them regarding a healthy lifestyle, usage of condoms, voluntary blood tests and about the violation of human rights,” he added.
Trained staff and volunteers of Yuvsatta have been employed to counsel the sex workers.
“Most female sex workers are from marginalized sections of society. They are most vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases because of illiteracy, ignorance and unhygienic living conditions,” said Kavita Chawan, additional director the of State AIDS Control Society.
She added: “Such a centre was the need of the hour and we hope that these women who most of the times remain at the receiving end will now act here as ‘agents of social change’. We are also ready to offer any kind of help in this initiative.”