Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Imphal, December 23 2008:
DRAWING SERIOUS concern over the condition of the commercial sex workers (CSW) in Manipur, Miss Lucy, convenor of the Survivors' Action for Human Rights, a 60 (sixty) member NGO of the CSWs, informed that the CSWs of the state were being tortured and even mentally harassed by certain elements including the state forces.
Addressing a press conference at the Hatta Centre for Social Disease in Imphal East today afternoon, Miss Lucy said that despite FIRs being filed at the concerned police stations, nothing was being done for the CSWs.
Under this status, the convenor called upon the government of the state to look into the condition of the CSW.
The convenor also informed that the organisation had submitted a five point memorandum to the chief minister on Monday for the drug users of the state.
The memorandum demanded the setting up of a free drug detoxification and rehab centres for those who cannot afford fees; the re-activation of de-addiction centre of Moreh which has been defunct for many years in order to avail those friends who are affected and infected by the HIV/AIDS in this border town; to increase the number of female rehab centres since almost all the programmes in the state are designed and implemented for the male drug users; to take up necessary arrangement for providing vocational training exclusively for the people living with HIV/AIDS and affected by the drug and; to develop a State Drug policy.
"We like to give up this work but there is no alternative as we are all drug users too", stated Miss Lucy, the convenor of the Survivors' Action for Human Rights.